U.S. patent application number 13/590385 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-28 for touch sensing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Display Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Jonggu HEO, Yoonnara JANG, Younggyu KIM, Suwon LEE, Myungho SHIN. Invention is credited to Jonggu HEO, Yoonnara JANG, Younggyu KIM, Suwon LEE, Myungho SHIN.
Application Number | 20130050116 13/590385 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46639329 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130050116 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SHIN; Myungho ; et
al. |
February 28, 2013 |
TOUCH SENSING DEVICE
Abstract
A touch sensing device includes a touch screen including Tx
lines, Rx lines crossing the Tx lines, and touch sensors formed
between the Tx lines and the Rx lines, and a touch screen driving
circuit which senses all the touch sensors of the touch screen in a
first sensing step to detect the presence or absence of a touch
input, and then again senses the touch sensors, in which the touch
input is detected as a first sensing result, in a second sensing
step to detect a position of the touch input. When there is no
touch sensor, in which the touch input is detected as the first
sensing result, the touch screen driving circuit repeats the first
sensing step.
Inventors: |
SHIN; Myungho; (Paju-si,
KR) ; HEO; Jonggu; (Seoul, KR) ; LEE;
Suwon; (Ansan-si, KR) ; JANG; Yoonnara;
(Jeonbuk, KR) ; KIM; Younggyu; (Paju-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SHIN; Myungho
HEO; Jonggu
LEE; Suwon
JANG; Yoonnara
KIM; Younggyu |
Paju-si
Seoul
Ansan-si
Jeonbuk
Paju-si |
|
KR
KR
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG Display Co., Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
46639329 |
Appl. No.: |
13/590385 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 2203/04104
20130101; G06F 3/0446 20190501; G06F 3/041661 20190501 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 26, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0085790 |
Nov 10, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0117130 |
Dec 2, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0128197 |
Dec 6, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0129559 |
Claims
1. A touch sensing device comprising: a touch screen including Tx
lines, Rx lines crossing the Tx lines, and touch sensors formed
between the Tx lines and the Rx lines; and a touch screen driving
circuit which senses all the touch sensors of the touch screen in a
first sensing step to detect the presence or absence of a touch
input, and then again senses the touch sensors, in which the touch
input is detected as a first sensing result, in a second sensing
step to detect a position of the touch input, wherein when there is
no touch sensor, in which the touch input is detected as the first
sensing result, the touch screen driving circuit repeats the first
sensing step.
2. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein the touch screen
driving circuit divides the touch screen into at least two Tx
blocks, wherein in the first sensing step, the touch screen driving
circuit simultaneously supplies a driving signal to Tx lines of a
first Tx block to simultaneously sense touch sensors of the first
Tx block, and then simultaneously supplies the driving signal to Tx
lines of a second Tx block to simultaneously sense touch sensors of
the second Tx block, wherein each of the first and second Tx blocks
is divided along a long-axis direction of the Rx lines, wherein
each of the first and second Tx blocks includes at least two Tx
lines and at least two Rx lines.
3. The touch sensing device of claim 2, wherein in the second
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit sequentially
supplies the driving signal only to Tx lines present in a Tx block,
in which the touch input is detected, to precisely sense touch
sensors of the Tx block, in which the touch input is detected.
4. The touch sensing device of claim 3, wherein the touch screen
driving circuit divides the touch screen into at least two Rx
blocks, wherein in the first sensing step, the touch screen driving
circuit simultaneously or sequentially samples a voltage of touch
sensors received through Rx lines of a first Rx block to convert
the voltage of the touch sensors into touch raw data, and then
simultaneously or sequentially samples a voltage of touch sensors
received through Rx lines of a second Rx block to convert the
voltage of the touch sensors into touch raw data, wherein in the
second sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit receives a
voltage of touch sensors only through Rx lines of an Rx block, in
which the touch input is detected, simultaneously or sequentially
samples the voltage of the touch sensors, and converts the voltage
of the touch sensors into touch raw data, wherein each of the first
and second Rx blocks is divided along a long-axis direction of the
Tx lines, wherein each of the first and second Rx blocks includes
at least two Tx lines and at least two Rx lines.
5. The touch sensing device of claim 3, wherein the touch screen
driving circuit stores the first sensing result obtained in the
first sensing step in a memory, wherein the touch screen driving
circuit adds the first sensing result obtained in the first sensing
step to a second sensing result obtained in the second sensing step
and estimates the position of the touch input based on touch raw
data produced as an addition result.
6. The touch sensing device of claim 5, wherein the touch screen
driving circuit divides the touch screen into at least two Rx
blocks, wherein in the first sensing step, the touch screen driving
circuit simultaneously or sequentially samples a voltage of touch
sensors received through Rx lines of a first Rx block to convert
the voltage of the touch sensors into touch raw data, and then
simultaneously or sequentially samples a voltage of touch sensors
received through Rx lines of a second Rx block to convert the
voltage of the touch sensors into touch raw data, wherein in the
second sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit receives a
voltage of touch sensors only through Rx lines of an Rx block, in
which the touch input is detected, simultaneously or sequentially
samples the voltage of the touch sensors, and converts the voltage
of the touch sensors into touch raw data, wherein each of the first
and second Rx blocks is divided along a long-axis direction of the
Tx lines, wherein each of the first and second Rx blocks includes
at least two Tx lines and at least two Rx lines.
7. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein in the first
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit sequentially
supplies a driving signal to the Tx lines to sense the touch
sensors, wherein in the second sensing step, the touch screen
driving circuit sequentially supplies the driving signal only to Tx
lines in which the touch input is detected, to precisely sense
touch sensors, in which the touch input is detected. wherein the
touch screen driving circuit stores the first sensing result
obtained in the first sensing step in a memory, wherein the touch
screen driving circuit adds the first sensing result obtained in
the first sensing step to a second sensing result obtained in the
second sensing step and estimates the position of the touch input
based on touch raw data produced as an addition result.
8. The touch sensing device of claim 7, wherein the touch screen
driving circuit divides the touch screen into at least two Rx
blocks, wherein in the first sensing step, the touch screen driving
circuit simultaneously or sequentially samples a voltage of touch
sensors received through Rx lines of a first Rx block to convert
the voltage of the touch sensors into touch raw data, and then
simultaneously or sequentially samples a voltage of touch sensors
received through Rx lines of a second Rx block to convert the
voltage of the touch sensors into touch raw data, wherein in the
second sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit receives a
voltage of touch sensors only through Rx lines of an Rx block, in
which the touch input is detected, simultaneously or sequentially
samples the voltage of the touch sensors, and converts the voltage
of the touch sensors into touch raw data, wherein each of the first
and second Rx blocks is divided along a long-axis direction of the
Tx lines, wherein each of the first and second Rx blocks includes
at least two Tx lines and at least two Rx lines.
9. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein the touch screen
driving circuit includes: a Tx driving circuit configured to supply
a driving signal to the Tx lines; an Rx driving circuit configured
to sample a voltage of the touch sensors received through the Rx
lines, convert the voltage of the touch sensors into touch raw
data, and output the touch raw data, a touch screen timing
controller configured to synchronize an operation timing of the Tx
driving circuit with an operation timing of the Rx driving circuit
and control a channel setup of each of the Tx and Rx driving
circuits, a sampling timing of the Rx driving circuit, and an
analog-to-digital conversion timing of the Rx driving circuit; and
a touch recognition processor configured to compare the touch raw
data with a predetermined threshold value and estimate touch raw
data, which is equal to or greater than the threshold value, as
touch input data.
10. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein the touch screen
driving circuit divides the touch screen into at least two Tx
blocks, wherein the touch screen driving circuit repeatedly senses
a voltage of the touch sensors two or more times while gradually
reducing a size of the Tx block based on the position of the touch
input obtained in the first sensing step.
11. The touch sensing device of claim 10, wherein the first sensing
step includes: a first block sensing step for sensing a voltage of
touch sensors of at least two blocks divided from the touch screen
and detecting the presence or absence of the touch input; and a
second block sensing step for dividing the block, in which the
touch input is detected in the first block sensing step, into at
least two sub-blocks and detecting the presence or absence of the
touch input in the at least two sub-blocks, when the touch input is
detected in the first block sensing step, wherein in the first
block sensing step, a driving signal is simultaneously applied to
Tx lines of a first block, and then the driving signal is
simultaneously applied to Tx lines of a second block, wherein in
the second block sensing step, the driving signal is simultaneously
applied to Tx lines of a first sub-block divided in one of the
first and second blocks, in which the touch input is detected, and
then the driving signal is simultaneously applied to Tx lines of a
second sub-block divided in one of the first and second blocks, in
which the touch input is detected, wherein a size of each of the at
least two sub-blocks is less than a size of each of the at least
two blocks.
12. The touch sensing device of claim 11, wherein the touch screen
driving circuit proceeds to the second sensing step when the touch
input is detected in the second block sensing step, sequentially
supplies the driving signal only to Tx lines present in the
sub-block, in which the touch input is detected in the second block
sensing step, and precisely senses touch sensors of the sub-block,
in which the touch input is detected.
13. The touch sensing device of claim 11, wherein when no touch
input is detected in the first block sensing step, the touch screen
driving circuit is disabled for a previously determined idle time
and then repeats the first block sensing step, wherein when no
touch input is detected in the second block sensing step, the touch
screen driving circuit repeats the first block sensing step.
14. The touch sensing device of claim 13, wherein the touch screen
driving circuit proceeds to the second sensing step when the touch
input is detected in the second block sensing step, sequentially
supplies the driving signal only to Tx lines present in the
sub-block, in which the touch input is detected in the second block
sensing step, and precisely senses touch sensors of the sub-block,
in which the touch input is detected.
15. The touch sensing device of claim 10, wherein the first sensing
step includes: a first block sensing step for sensing a voltage of
touch sensors of at least two blocks divided from the touch screen
and detecting the presence or absence of the touch input; a second
block sensing step for dividing the block, in which the touch input
is detected in the first block sensing step, into at least two
sub-blocks and detecting the presence or absence of the touch input
in the at least two sub-blocks; and a third block sensing step for
dividing the sub-block, in which the touch input is detected in the
second block sensing step, into at least two re-subdivided blocks
and detecting the presence or absence of the touch input in the at
least two re-subdivided blocks, wherein in the first block sensing
step, a driving signal is simultaneously applied to Tx lines of a
first block, and then the driving signal is simultaneously applied
to Tx lines of a second block, wherein in the second block sensing
step, the driving signal is simultaneously applied to Tx lines of a
first sub-block divided in one of the first and second blocks, in
which the touch input is detected, and then the driving signal is
simultaneously applied to Tx lines of a second sub-block divided in
one of the first and second blocks, in which the touch input is
detected, wherein in the third block sensing step, the driving
signal is simultaneously applied to Tx lines of a first
re-subdivided block of the at least two re-subdivided blocks, and
then the driving signal is simultaneously applied to Tx lines of a
second re-subdivided block of the at least two re-subdivided
blocks, wherein a size of each of the at least two sub-blocks is
less than a size of each of the at least two blocks, wherein a size
of each of the at least two re-subdivided blocks is less than a
size of each of the at least two sub-blocks.
16. The touch sensing device of claim 15, wherein the touch screen
driving circuit proceeds to the second sensing step when the touch
input is detected in the third block sensing step, sequentially
supplies the driving signal only to Tx lines present in the
re-subdivided block, in which the touch input is detected in the
third block sensing step, and precisely senses touch sensors of the
re-subdivided block, in which the touch input is detected.
17. The touch sensing device of claim 15, wherein when no touch
input is detected in the first block sensing step, the touch screen
driving circuit is disabled for a previously determined idle time
and then repeats the first block sensing step, wherein when no
touch input is detected in the second block sensing step, the touch
screen driving circuit repeats the first block sensing step.
18. The touch sensing device of claim 17, wherein the touch screen
driving circuit proceeds to the second sensing step when the touch
input is detected in the third block sensing step, sequentially
supplies the driving signal only to Tx lines present in the
re-subdivided block, in which the touch input is detected in the
third block sensing step, and precisely senses touch sensors of the
re-subdivided block, in which the touch input is detected.
19. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein the touch screen
driving circuit divides the touch screen into blocks in a lattice
pattern, wherein in the first sensing step, the touch screen
driving circuit simultaneously supplies a driving signal to Tx
lines of a first Tx block of the touch screen to simultaneously
sense touch sensors of the first Tx block, and then simultaneously
supplies the driving signal to Tx lines of a second Tx block of the
touch screen to simultaneously sense touch sensors of the second Tx
block, wherein each of the first and second Tx blocks is divided
along a long-axis direction of the Rx lines, wherein each of the
first and second Tx blocks includes at least two Tx lines and at
least two Rx lines, wherein the first Tx block includes blocks
belonging to a first group sharing the Tx lines of the first Tx
block among the blocks of the lattice pattern, wherein the second
Tx block includes blocks belonging to a second group sharing the Tx
lines of the second Tx block among the blocks of the lattice
pattern.
20. The touch sensing device of claim 19, wherein the touch screen
driving circuit precisely senses touch sensors of a partial sensing
area greater than a block, in which the touch input is detected, in
the second sensing step.
21. The touch sensing device of claim 20, wherein in the second
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit supplies the driving
signal to Tx lines passing through the block, in which the touch
input is detected, and supplies the driving signal to Tx lines
crossing a block left or right adjacent to the block, in which the
touch input is detected, wherein the partial sensing area includes
touch sensors of the block in which the touch input is detected,
touch sensors of the block left or right adjacent to the block in
which the touch input is detected, and some of touch sensors of
blocks close to the block, in which the touch input is detected,
and the block left or right adjacent to the block, in which the
touch input is detected.
22. The touch sensing device of claim 20, wherein in the second
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit supplies the driving
signal to Tx lines crossing the block, in which the touch input is
detected, and supplies the driving signal to M Tx lines close to
the block, in which the touch input is detected, in other blocks
adjacent to the block, in which the touch input is detected, where
M is a positive integer which is equal to or greater than 1 and
less than the number of Tx lines included in one block, wherein the
partial sensing area includes touch sensors of the block in which
the touch input is detected, and touch sensors connected to the M
Tx lines.
23. The touch sensing device of claim 20, wherein in the second
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit supplies the driving
signal to Tx lines passing through the block, in which the touch
input is detected, and supplies the driving signal to Tx lines
crossing a block upward or downward adjacent to the block, in which
the touch input is detected, wherein the partial sensing area
includes touch sensors of the block in which the touch input is
detected, touch sensors of the block upward or downward adjacent to
the block in which the touch input is detected, and some of touch
sensors of blocks close to the block, in which the touch input is
detected, and the block upward or downward adjacent to the block,
in which the touch input is detected.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2011-0085790 filed on Aug. 26, 2011, Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2011-0117130 filed on Nov. 10, 2011,
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0128197 filed on Dec. 2,
2011, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0129559 filed on
Dec. 6, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] Embodiments of the invention relate to a touch sensing
device.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] As home appliances or portable information devices are
becoming more lightweight and slimmer, user input means is being
switched from a button switch to a touch screen. A touch screen
includes a plurality of touch sensors.
[0006] US Publication No. 2010/0200310 (published on Aug. 12, 2010)
discloses a touch screen (hereinafter, referred to as "a self
capacitance touch screen") including capacitive touch sensors at
crossings of X lines and Y lines crossing each other. The self
capacitance touch screen scans the X lines and converts a signal
received from the X lines into digital data through an
analog-to-digital conversion (hereinafter, referred to as "ADC")
process. Further, the self capacitance touch screen scans the Y
lines and converts a signal received from the Y lines into digital
data through the ADC process. The self capacitance touch screen
recognizes a touch sensor, which is positioned at a crossing of an
X line and a Y line having a large change in capacitance before and
after a touch operation, as a touch position. The self capacitance
touch screen analyzes digital data obtained by sensing each of an X
line and a Y line and converting them through the ADC process to
thereby detect the touch position. Therefore, the self capacitance
touch screen may wrongly recognize a ghost point present at the
same X and Y lines as an actual touch position as the touch
position. Accordingly, the self capacitance touch screen has the
drawbacks that it has low multi-touch sensitivity and the
complicated ghost detection and a removal algorithm has to be
additionally applied.
[0007] The self capacitance touch screen disclosed in US
Publication No. 2010/0200310 senses the X lines and the Y lines on
a group basis in a pre-scan process. Next, the self capacitance
touch screen disclosed in US Publication No. 2010/0200310 performs
a re-scan process and a touch position detection process after the
ADC process and a touch position detection process, thereby
improving the accuracy of touch recognition. Moreover, the self
capacitance touch screen disclosed in US Publication No.
2010/0200310 simultaneously scans the X lines (or the Y lines) of a
group in the pre-scan process, and thus may reduce a touch sensing
time, as compared to a method for sequentially sensing all the X
lines and Y lines each time a touch position is detected. However,
the self capacitance touch screen disclosed in US Publication No.
2010/0200310 has limitation in the reduction in the touch sensing
time because it has to sequentially perform the pre-scan, the ADC,
the execution of the touch recognition algorithm, the re-scan, the
ADC, and the execution of the touch recognition algorithm each time
the touch position is detected.
[0008] A touch report rate is a frequency at which coordinate data
obtained by sensing all of the touch sensors present in the touch
screen is transmitted to the outside. The higher the touch report
rate, the higher the continuity of touch input traces and the
higher the touch sensitivity a user feels. The touch report rate is
inversely proportional to total sensing time required to sense all
of the touch sensors of the touch screen. That is, the longer the
total sensing time, the lower the touch report rate. Accordingly,
the self capacitance touch screen disclosed in US Publication No.
2010/0200310 cannot sufficiently increase the touch report
rate.
[0009] The related art touch screen has the low sensing
sensitivity, for example, the wrong recognition of the ghost point
as the touch position and the input of a momentarily generated
noise as a touch input when the momentarily generated noise is
synchronized with a sensing timing. The performance improvement of
the touch screen including the increase of the touch report rate,
the improvement of the sensing sensitivity, etc. has to be
achieved, so as to improve the touch sensitivity the user feels.
For example, linearity of the related art touch screen is reduced
when a line drawing or a dragging is performed on the related art
touch screen.
[0010] Because the related art touch screen repeatedly senses all
of the touch sensors irrespective of the presence or absence of a
touch (or proximity) input, it is difficult to reduce power
consumption of the related art touch screen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Embodiments of the invention provide a touch sensing device
capable of improving a performance of a touch screen.
[0012] In one aspect, there is a touch sensing device including a
touch screen including Tx lines, Rx lines crossing the Tx lines,
and touch sensors formed between the Tx lines and the Rx lines, and
a touch screen driving circuit which senses all the touch sensors
of the touch screen in a first sensing step to detect the presence
or absence of a touch input, and then again senses the touch
sensors, in which the touch input is detected as a first sensing
result, in a second sensing step to detect a position of the touch
input.
[0013] When there is no touch sensor, in which the touch input is
detected as the first sensing result, the touch screen driving
circuit repeats the first sensing step.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a display device according to
an example embodiment of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a plane view illustrating in detail an electrode
pattern of a touch screen shown in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate various combinations of a touch
screen and a display panel according to an example embodiment of
the invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
readout integrated circuit according to an example embodiment of
the invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method for driving a
touch sensing device according to a first embodiment of the
invention;
[0020] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a block sensing time and a partial
sensing time;
[0021] FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate a block sensing method and a
partial sensing method when a touch screen is driven in a state
being divided into two or more Tx blocks;
[0022] FIG. 13 is a waveform diagram of a driving signal supplied
to Tx lines when a single touch input is detected as a block
sensing result;
[0023] FIG. 14 illustrates a block sensing method and a partial
sensing method when a multi-touch input to a plurality of Tx blocks
is detected as a block sensing result;
[0024] FIG. 15 is a waveform diagram of a driving signal supplied
to Tx lines when a multi-touch input is detected as a block sensing
result;
[0025] FIG. 16 illustrates a block sensing method and a partial
sensing method when a touch input is generated at a boundary
between adjacent blocks;
[0026] FIG. 17 is a waveform diagram of a driving signal supplied
to Tx lines in the case illustrated in FIG. 16;
[0027] FIGS. 18 to 22 illustrate a block sensing method and a
partial sensing method when a touch screen is driven in a state
being divided into two or more Rx blocks;
[0028] FIG. 23 illustrates an improvement effect of touch
sensitivity in a method for driving a touch sensing device
according to a second embodiment of the invention;
[0029] FIG. 24 is a flow chart illustrating the method for driving
the touch sensing device according to the second embodiment of the
invention;
[0030] FIG. 25 is a circuit diagram illustrating a sampling circuit
of an Rx driving circuit and an analog-to-digital converter for
implementing the method for driving the touch sensing device
according to the second embodiment of the invention;
[0031] FIG. 26 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a sampling
circuit when switches S11, S12, S11', and S12' shown in FIG. 25 are
turned on;
[0032] FIG. 27 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a sampling
circuit when switches S21, S22, S21', and S22' shown in FIG. 25 are
turned on;
[0033] FIG. 28 is a flow chart illustrating a method for driving a
touch sensing device according to a third embodiment of the
invention;
[0034] FIG. 29 is a waveform diagram illustrating a fully sensing
method;
[0035] FIG. 30 illustrates an improvement effect of touch
sensitivity in the method for driving the touch sensing device
according to the third embodiment of the invention;
[0036] FIG. 31 is a flow chart illustrating in more detail the
method for driving the touch sensing device according to the third
embodiment of the invention;
[0037] FIG. 32 is a flow chart illustrating a method for driving a
touch sensing device according to a fourth embodiment of the
invention;
[0038] FIGS. 33 and 34 illustrate a block sensing period and a
partial sensing period in the method for driving the touch sensing
device according to the fourth embodiment of the invention;
[0039] FIG. 35 illustrates an example of a method for dividing a
touch screen;
[0040] FIG. 36 illustrates an example of sub-blocks divided from a
block, in which a touch input is detected among a plurality of
blocks shown in FIG. 35;
[0041] FIG. 37 illustrates a partial sensing method performed
inside a sub-block, in which a touch input is detected among
sub-blocks shown in FIG. 36;
[0042] FIG. 38 is a waveform diagram illustrating a block sensing
method and a partial sensing method in the case illustrated in
FIGS. 35 to 37;
[0043] FIG. 39 illustrates an example of a multi-touch input, in
which a touch input is generated in two first blocks of first
blocks shown in FIG. 35;
[0044] FIG. 40 is a waveform diagram illustrating a block sensing
method and a partial sensing method in a multi-touch input shown in
FIG. 39;
[0045] FIG. 41 illustrates another example of a method for dividing
a touch screen;
[0046] FIG. 42 illustrates an example of sub-blocks divided from a
block, in which a touch input is detected among a plurality of
blocks shown in FIG. 41;
[0047] FIG. 43 illustrates an example of re-subdivided blocks
divided from a sub-block, in which a touch input is detected among
sub-blocks shown in FIG. 42;
[0048] FIG. 44 is a waveform diagram illustrating a block sensing
method and a partial sensing method in the case illustrated in
FIGS. 41 to 43;
[0049] FIG. 45 illustrates an example of sensing only touch sensors
inside blocks in a partial sensing step;
[0050] FIG. 46 is a waveform diagram illustrating driving pulses
applied to a touch screen in a partial sensing method illustrated
in FIG. 45;
[0051] FIG. 47 illustrates a center point shift phenomenon of a
touch input caused in a partial sensing method illustrated in FIG.
45;
[0052] FIG. 48 illustrates a first example CASE 1 where a partial
sensing area is expanded in a method for driving a touch sensing
device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;
[0053] FIG. 49 is a waveform diagram illustrating driving pulses
applied to a touch screen in a partial sensing method illustrated
in FIG. 48;
[0054] FIG. 50 illustrates a second example CASE 2 where a partial
sensing area is expanded in the method for driving the touch
sensing device according to the fifth embodiment of the
invention;
[0055] FIG. 51 is a waveform diagram illustrating driving pulses
applied to a touch screen in a partial sensing method illustrated
in FIG. 50;
[0056] FIG. 52 illustrates a third example CASE 3 where a partial
sensing area is expanded in the method for driving the touch
sensing device according to the fifth embodiment of the
invention;
[0057] FIG. 53 is a waveform diagram illustrating driving pulses
applied to a touch screen in a partial sensing method illustrated
in FIG. 52;
[0058] FIG. 54 illustrates a fourth example CASE 4 where a partial
sensing area is expanded in the method for driving the touch
sensing device according to the fifth embodiment of the
invention;
[0059] FIG. 55 is a waveform diagram illustrating driving pulses
applied to a touch screen in a partial sensing method illustrated
in FIG. 54;
[0060] FIG. 56 illustrates a fifth example CASE 5 where a partial
sensing area is expanded in the method for driving the touch
sensing device according to the fifth embodiment of the invention;
and
[0061] FIG. 57 is a waveform diagram illustrating driving pulses
applied to a touch screen in a partial sensing method illustrated
in FIG. 56.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0062] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying
drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be
used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. It
will be paid attention that detailed description of known arts will
be omitted if it is determined that the arts can mislead the
embodiments of the invention.
[0063] A mutual capacitance touch screen includes Tx lines, Rx
lines crossing the Tx lines, and touch sensors formed between the
Tx lines and the Rx lines. Each of the touch sensors has a mutual
capacitance formed between the Tx line and the Rx line. A touch
sensing device senses changes in a voltage charged to the touch
sensors before and after a touch (or proximity) operation and
detects the presence or absence of a touch (or proximity) of a
conductive material and a position thereof. The mutual capacitance
touch screen supplies a driving signal to the Tx lines and
individually senses changes in the capacitance of each of the touch
sensors through the Rx lines in synchronization with the driving
signal. In the mutual capacitance touch screen, the Tx lines, to
which the driving signal is supplied, are separated from the Rx
lines sensing the touch sensors. The driving signal has been
illustrated as taking the form of a driving signal for ease of
description, but not limited thereto. For example, the driving
signal may be generated in various forms including a square wave
pulse, a sine wave pulse, a triangle wave pulse, etc. The mutual
capacitance touch screen is able to sense the voltage change before
and after the touch operation in each of the touch sensors through
this sensing method, thereby accurately recognizing each touch (or
proximity) input without detecting a ghost point in case of a
multi-touch input.
[0064] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a display device according to an
example embodiment of the invention includes a display panel DIS, a
display driving circuit, and a touch sensing device. The touch
sensing device includes a touch screen TSP and a touch screen
driving circuit. All components of the display device are
operatively coupled and configured.
[0065] The display device according to the embodiment of the
invention may be implemented based on a flat panel display, such as
a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display (FED), a
plasma display panel (PDP), an organic light emitting diode (OLED)
display, and an electrophoresis display (EPD). In the following
description, the embodiment of the invention will be described
using the liquid crystal display as an example of the flat panel
display. Other flat panel displays may be used.
[0066] The display panel DIS includes a lower glass substrate GLS2,
an upper glass substrate GLS1, and a liquid crystal layer formed
between the lower glass substrate GLS2 and the upper glass
substrate GLS1. The lower glass substrate GLS2 of the display panel
DIS includes a plurality of data lines D1 to Dm, where m is a
positive integer, a plurality of gate lines (or scan lines) G1 to
Gn crossing the data lines D1 to Dm, where n is a positive integer,
a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) formed at crossings of
the data lines D1 to Dm and the gate lines G1 to Gn, a plurality of
pixel electrodes for charging liquid crystal cells to a data
voltage, a plurality of storage capacitors, each of which is
connected to the pixel electrode and holds a voltage of the liquid
crystal cell, etc. The display panel DIS may use any known display
panel structure.
[0067] Pixels of the display panel DIS are respectively formed in
pixel areas defined by the data lines D1 to Dm and the gate lines
G1 to Gn to form a matrix structure. The liquid crystal cell of
each pixel is driven by an electric field generated depending on a
voltage difference between the data voltage supplied to the pixel
electrode and a common voltage supplied to a common electrode,
thereby adjusting an amount of light transmitted by the liquid
crystal cell. The TFTs are turned on in response to a gate pulse
(or a scan pulse) from the gate lines G1 to Gn, thereby supplying
the voltage from the data lines D1 to Dm to the pixel electrodes of
the liquid crystal cells.
[0068] The upper glass substrate GLS1 of the display panel DIS may
include black matrixes, color filters, etc. The lower glass
substrate GLS2 of the display panel DIS may be configured in a
color filter on TFT (COT) structure. In this instance, the black
matrixes and the color filters may be formed on the lower glass
substrate GLS2 of the display panel DIS.
[0069] Polarizing plates POL1 and POL2 are respectively attached to
the upper and lower glass substrates GLS1 and GLS2 of the display
panel DIS. Alignment layers for setting a pre-tilt angle of liquid
crystals are respectively formed on the inner surfaces contacting
the liquid crystals in the upper and lower glass substrates GLS1
and GLS2 of the display panel DIS. A column spacer may be formed
between the upper and lower glass substrates GLS1 and GLS2 of the
display panel DIS to keep cell gaps of the liquid crystal cells
constant.
[0070] A backlight unit may be disposed in the rear of the display
panel DIS. The backlight unit may be configured as one of an edge
type backlight unit and a direct type backlight unit to provide
light to the display panel DIS. The display panel DIS may be
implemented in any known mode including a twisted nematic (TN)
mode, a vertical alignment (VA) mode, an in-plane switching (IPS)
mode, a fringe field switching (FFS) mode, etc.
[0071] The display driving circuit includes a data driving circuit
12, a scan driving circuit 14, a timing controller 20, etc. The
display driving circuit writes video data of an input image to the
pixels of the display panel DIS.
[0072] The data driving circuit 12 converts digital video data RGB
received from the timing controller 20 into positive and negative
analog gamma compensation voltages and outputs the data voltage.
The data driving circuit 12 supplies the data voltage to the data
lines D1 to Dm. The scan driving circuit 14 sequentially supplies
the gate pulse synchronized with the data voltage to the gate lines
G1 to Gn and selects lines of the display panel DIS to which the
video data will be written.
[0073] The timing controller 20 receives timing signals, such as a
vertical sync signal Vsync, a horizontal sync signal Hsync, a data
enable DE, and a main clock MCLK, from an external host system. The
timing controller 20 generates a data timing control signal and a
scan timing control signal for respectively controlling operation
timings of the data driving circuit 12 and the scan driving circuit
14 using the timing signals. The data timing control signal
includes a source sampling clock SSC, a source output enable SOE, a
polarity control signal POL, etc. The scan timing control signal
includes a gate start pulse GSP, a gate shift clock GSC, a gate
output enable GOE, etc.
[0074] As shown in FIG. 3, the touch screen TSP may be attached on
the upper polarizing plate POL1 of the display panel DIS.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the touch screen TSP may be
formed between the upper polarizing plate POL1 and the upper glass
substrate GLS1. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, touch
sensors TSN of the touch screen TSP may be embedded in the lower
glass substrate GLS2 along with pixel array of the display panel
DIS in an in-cell manner. In FIG. 5, `PIX` denotes the pixel
electrode of the liquid crystal cell.
[0075] The touch screen TSP includes Tx lines T1 to Tj, where j is
a positive integer less than n, Rx lines R1 to Ri crossing the Tx
lines T1 to Tj, where i is a positive integer less than m, and ixj
touch sensors TSN formed between the Tx lines T1 to Tj and the Rx
lines R1 to Ri. Each of the touch sensors TSN has a mutual
capacitance.
[0076] The touch screen driving circuit includes a Tx driving
circuit 32, an Rx driving circuit 34, a touch screen timing
controller (hereinafter referred to as a "TSP timing controller")
36, and a touch recognition processor 30. The touch screen driving
circuit supplies the driving signal to the Tx lines T1 to Tj and
senses the voltage of the touch sensors through the Rx lines R1 to
Ri in synchronization with the driving signal. As shown in FIG. 6,
the Tx driving circuit 32, the Rx driving circuit 34, and the TSP
timing controller 36 may be integrated in one readout integrated
circuit (ROIC) 40. The touch recognition processor 30 may also be
integrated in the ROIC 40.
[0077] The touch screen driving circuit senses all of the touch
sensors of the touch screen TSP in a first sensing step and then
again senses only the touch sensors, in which a touch input is
detected as a result of the first sensing step, in a second sensing
step, thereby detecting a touch input position. The first sensing
step scans the touch sensors of the touch screen TSP using a block
sensing method or a fully sensing method. The second sensing step
uses a partial sensing method for precisely sensing again only the
touch sensors, in which the touch input is detected in the first
sensing step. The first sensing step may be repeatedly performed
one or more times until the touch input is detected.
[0078] The touch screen driving circuit may repeatedly perform a
block sensing operation in a first block sensing step two or more
times while gradually reducing the size of Tx blocks based on a
position of the touch input. A reason to repeatedly perform the
block sensing operation in the first block sensing step while
gradually reducing the size of the Tx blocks is to confirm whether
the detected touch input is true or false and to reduce power
consumption of the touch screen.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 6, the Tx driving circuit 32 selects the Tx
lines to be supplied with a driving signal in response to a setup
signal SUTx input from the TSP timing controller 36 and supplies
the driving signal to the selected Tx lines T1 to Tj. The
embodiment of the invention repeatedly accumulates the voltage of
the touch sensor TSN N times (where N is a positive integer equal
to or greater than 2) and charges a sampling capacitor of the Rx
driving circuit 34 with the accumulated voltage, thereby increasing
the change in the voltage of the touch sensor TSN before and after
the touch operation. To this end, the driving signal applied to
each of the Tx lines T1 to Tj may include N driving signals which
are generated at predetermined time intervals. If the j touch
sensors TSN are connected to one Tx line, the driving signal
including the N driving signals may be successively supplied to the
one Tx line j times and then may be successively supplied to the
next Tx line in the same manner.
[0080] The Rx driving circuit 34 selects the Rx lines to receive a
touch sensor voltage in response to an Rx setup signal SURx input
from the TSP timing controller 36. The Rx driving circuit 34
receives and samples the touch sensor voltage through the selected
Rx lines. The Rx driving circuit 34 converts the sampled voltage
into digital data using an analog-to-digital converter to output
touch raw data TData (refer to FIG. 6). The touch raw data TData is
transmitted to the touch recognition processor 30.
[0081] The TSP timing controller 36 is connected to the Tx driving
circuit 32 and the Rx driving circuit 34 through an interface, such
as an I.sub.2C bus, an serial peripheral interface (SPI), and a
system bus, thereby synchronizing operation timings of the Tx
driving circuit 32 and the Rx driving circuit 34 with each other.
The TSP timing controller 36 controls a Tx channel setup of the Tx
driving circuit 32, an Rx channel setup of the Rx driving circuit
34, a sampling timing of the Rx driving circuit 34, an
analog-to-digital conversion timing of the Rx driving circuit 34,
etc. The TSP timing controller 36 generates control signals for
controlling the Tx channel setup of the Tx driving circuit 32, the
Rx channel setup of the Rx driving circuit 34, and operation
timings of the Tx driving circuit 32 and the Rx driving circuit
34.
[0082] The touch recognition processor 30 analyzes the touch raw
data input from the Rx driving circuit 34 using a previously
determined touch recognition algorithm. The touch recognition
algorithm compares the touch raw data with a predetermined
threshold value, estimates touch raw data, which is equal to or
greater than the threshold value, as touch (or proximity) input
data, and calculates coordinates of a position of the touch (or
proximity) input. The touch recognition algorithm may be any
well-known algorithm applicable to the mutual capacitance touch
screen. The touch recognition processor 30 transmits coordinate
data HIDxy, including coordinate information of the touch (or
proximity) input position obtained as a calculation result of the
touch recognition algorithm, to an external host system. The touch
recognition processor 30 may include a buffer memory which stores a
calculation result of the touch recognition algorithm and touch
coordinate data. The touch recognition processor 30 may be
implemented as a microcontroller unit (MCU).
[0083] The host system may be connected to an external video source
equipment, for example, a navigation system, a set-top box, a DVD
player, a Blu-ray player, a personal computer (PC), a home theater
system, a broadcasting receiver, and a phone system and may receive
image data from the external video source equipment. The host
system converts the image data from the external video source
equipment into a format suitable for displaying on the display
panel DIS. Also, the host system runs an application associated
with the coordinate data input from the touch recognition processor
30.
[0084] A method for driving the touch sensing device according to
the embodiment of the invention may virtually divide the touch
sensors of the touch screen TSP into two or more blocks when a
block sensing method is used as a first sensing method, thereby
quickly determining the presence or absence of a touch (or
proximity) input in each block using the block sensing method.
Subsequently, the method for driving the touch sensing device
according to the embodiment of the invention may apply a partial
sensing method only to the block, in which the touch (or proximity)
input is detected in the block sensing method, thereby precisely
sensing a position of the touch (or proximity) input in the
detected block. Thus, the method for driving the touch sensing
device according to the embodiment of the invention may reduce the
total sensing time of the touch screen to thereby increase a touch
report rate and also may increase sensing sensitivity.
[0085] The method for driving the touch sensing device using both
the block sensing method and the partial sensing method is
described below in conjunction with FIGS. 7 to 24.
[0086] The touch screen TSP is divided into virtual Tx blocks
and/or Rx blocks along an x-axis direction and/or a y-axis
direction (refer to FIGS. 1 and 2). Each of the Tx/Rx blocks
includes two or more Tx lines, two or more Rx lines, and the
plurality of touch sensors.
[0087] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 24, the touch screen driving circuit
firstly scans the touch sensors of the touch screen TSP to sense
the touch sensors on a per block basis. Then, the touch screen
driving circuit performs partial sensing (or second scanning) on
the touch sensors belonging to a block in which a touch (or
proximity) input is detected, thereby precisely detecting a
position of the touch (or proximity) input. A block sensing period
of one block in the embodiment of the invention merely corresponds
to a sensing time of one line in the related art. Accordingly, the
touch screen driving circuit according to the embodiment of the
invention may reduce the total sensing time required to sense all
the touch sensors of the touch screen. Further, the touch screen
driving circuit according to the embodiment of the invention may
repeatedly sense the position of the touch (or proximity) input two
or more times in each frame through the block sensing step and the
partial sensing step, thereby increasing the touch sensing accuracy
and increasing the sensitivity of the touch sensors.
[0088] The Tx driving circuit 32 applies the driving signal to the
Tx lines T1 to Tj on a per Tx-block basis during a block sensing
period under the control of the TSP timing controller 36. The Tx
driving circuit 32 supplies the driving signal only to the Tx lines
T1 to Tj present in the Tx block, in which the touch (or proximity)
input is detected, during a partial sensing period under the
control of the TSP timing controller 36.
[0089] During the block sensing period, the Rx driving circuit 34
simultaneously senses voltages of the touch sensors through the Rx
lines R1 to Ri on a per Rx-block basis under the control of the TSP
timing controller 36 and the touch recognition processor 30, and
converts the sensed voltages of the touch sensors into digital
data. Afterwards, during the partial sensing period, the Rx driving
circuit 34 may sequentially sample the voltages of the touch
sensors received through the Rx lines present in an Rx block, in
which the touch (or proximity) input is detected as a result of the
block sensing, and may convert the sampled voltages into digital
data. The Rx block includes G Rx lines, where G is a positive
integer equal to or greater than 2 and less than i/2.
[0090] In the related art, the Tx driving circuit sequentially
supplied a driving signal to Tx lines. In contrast, in the
embodiment of the invention, a Tx driving time can be greatly
reduced through the block sensing step, and the false touch
recognition can be prevented through the partial sensing step.
[0091] In response to the setup signal SUTx input from the TSP
timing controller 36, the Tx driving circuit 32 selects the Tx
lines on a per block basis during the block sensing period and
selects the Tx lines on a per line basis during the partial sensing
period. The Tx driving circuit 32 supplies the driving signal to
the Tx lines T1 to Tj selected in response to the setup signal
SUTx. To increase a charge amount of the sampling capacitor through
the repeated accumulation of the voltages of the touch sensors TSN
N times, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, the driving signal applied to
each of the Tx lines T1 to Tj may include N driving signals which
are successively generated at predetermined time intervals. If the
j touch sensors are connected to one Tx line, the driving signal
including the N driving signals may be successively supplied to the
one Tx line j times and then may be successively supplied to the
next Tx line in the same manner.
[0092] In the related art, when the touch sensors connected to one
Tx line are sensed, the Rx driving circuit sequentially samples the
voltages of the touch sensors and digitally converts the sampled
voltages. In contrast, the Rx driving circuit 34 according to the
embodiment of the invention can greatly reduce time required to
receive and sample the voltages of the touch sensors in the block
sensing step.
[0093] The Rx driving circuit 34 selects the Rx lines R1 to Ri to
receive the touch sensor voltages in response to the Rx setup
signal SURx input from the TSP timing controller 36. The Rx driving
circuit 34 receives and samples the voltages of the touch sensors
through the Rx lines selected in response to the Rx setup signal
SURx.
[0094] During the block sensing period, the Rx driving circuit 34
may simultaneously receive and sample the voltages of the touch
sensors through the Rx lines R1 to Ri on a per Rx-block basis and
may convert the sampled voltages into digital data. The Rx driving
circuit 34 may sequentially receive and sample the voltages of the
touch sensors through the Rx lines present in the Rx block, in
which the touch (or proximity) input is detected as the block
sensing result, and may convert the sampled voltages into digital
data. The digital data output from the Rx driving circuit 34, which
is touch raw data, is transmitted to the touch recognition
processor 30.
[0095] The touch recognition processor 30 may analyze the touch raw
data TData obtained as the block sensing result using the touch
recognition algorithm, and when a change amount of the touch sensor
voltage before and after the touch operation is equal to or greater
than a predetermined threshold value, may determine touch raw data
of the change amount as data of the touch (or proximity) input
position, thereby detecting the presence or absence of the touch
(or proximity) input. When the touch (or proximity) input is
detected as the block sensing result, the touch recognition
processor 30 controls the Tx driving circuit 32 and the Rx driving
circuit 34 in the partial sensing step. The touch recognition
processor 30 performs the partial sensing step, thereby analyzing
the touch raw data TData obtained by precisely sensing the touch
sensors of the block, in which the touch (or proximity) input is
detected in the block sensing step. The touch recognition processor
30 performs the touch recognition algorithm, and when a change
amount of the touch sensor voltage before and after the touch
operation as the partial sensing result is equal to or greater than
the predetermined threshold value, determines touch raw data of the
change amount as data obtained from the touch sensors at an actual
touch (or proximity) input position, thereby estimating the
coordinate values of the touch sensors. The touch recognition
processor 30 transmits final touch coordinate data, including
coordinate information of the touch sensors detected as the touch
(or proximity) input in both the block sensing step and the partial
sensing step, to the host system.
[0096] If no touch (or proximity) input is detected in the block
sensing step, the touch recognition processor 30 does not proceed
to the partial sensing step and repeats the block sensing step.
Accordingly, the touch recognition processor 30 may selectively
omit the partial sensing step based on the block sensing result,
thereby reducing the total sensing time of the touch screen without
a reduction in the touch sensitivity.
[0097] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the block sensing step senses the
touch sensors on a per block basis to sense all the touch sensors
of the touch screen TSP for a first sensing time TB in step S71.
For example, the block sensing step simultaneously supplies the
driving signal to the Tx lines present in an I-th block (where I is
a positive integer) to simultaneously sense the voltages of all the
touch sensors belonging to the I-th block. Subsequently, the block
sensing step simultaneously supplies the driving signal to the Tx
lines present in an (I+1)th block to simultaneously sense the
voltages of all the touch sensors belonging to the (I+1)th block.
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, because the driving signal is
simultaneously supplied to all the Tx lines present in one block,
the first sensing time TB of one block in the embodiment of the
invention is only time required to sense one line of the touch
screen in the related art.
[0098] When the touch (or proximity) input is detected as the block
sensing result, the touch recognition processor 30 proceeds to and
performs the partial sensing step for a second sensing time TP to
sequentially supply the driving signal, line by line, to the Tx
lines present in a block, in which the touch (or proximity) input
is detected, and to precisely sense the voltages of the touch
sensors belonging to the block, thereby precisely detecting the
touch (or proximity) input position in step S72 and S73. The second
sensing time TP varies depending on the number of blocks in which
the touch (or proximity) input is detected.
[0099] As shown in FIG. 8, only when the touch (or proximity) input
is detected in the block sensing step, the partial sensing step is
performed subsequent to the block sensing step. On the other hand,
as shown in FIG. 9, if no touch (or proximity) input is detected in
the block sensing step, the block sensing step is again performed
subsequent to the block sensing step.
[0100] When the block sensing step is repeatedly performed as shown
in FIG. 9, the Tx driving circuit 32, the Rx driving circuit 34,
and the TSP timing controller 36 may be disabled and stop for a
predetermined time before the next block sensing step is performed,
so as to reduce power consumption of the touch screen driving
circuit.
[0101] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the total sensing time Ttotal
required to sense all the touch sensors of the touch screen TSP is
a sum of the first sensing time TB and the second sensing time TP.
When the touch (or proximity) input (i.e., multi-touch (or
multi-proximity) input) is detected from several blocks as the
block sensing result, the partial sensing of the detected blocks is
performed. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, the first sensing time
TB required for the block sensing is fixed, whereas the second
sensing time required for the partial sensing is variable because
the second sensing time TP may lengthen if the multi-touch (or
multi-proximity) input is detected as the block sensing result.
[0102] FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate the block sensing step and the
partial sensing step when the touch screen TSP is driven in a state
being divided into the plurality of Tx blocks along the y-axis.
Herein, the y-axis is parallel to a long-axis direction of the Rx
lines as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0103] As shown in FIG. 10, the touch screen TSP may be divided
into first and second Tx blocks B1 and B2. In this instance, in the
block sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit simultaneously
supplies the driving signal to all the Tx lines present in the
first Tx block B1 and then simultaneously supplies the driving
signal to all the Tx lines present in the second Tx blocks B2,
thereby detecting the presence or absence of the touch (or
proximity) input on a per Tx-block basis. When the touch (or
proximity) input is detected in the first Tx block B1 in the block
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit proceeds to the
partial sensing step. In the partial sensing step, the touch screen
driving circuit sequentially supplies the driving signal to the Tx
lines present in the first Tx block B1 to precisely sense the touch
sensors of the first Tx block B1. As a result, the touch screen
driving circuit accurately detects a final touch (or proximity)
input position. In the partial sensing step, the touch screen
driving circuit does not sense the second Tx block B2, in which no
touch (or proximity) input is detected in the block sensing
step.
[0104] As shown in FIG. 11, the touch screen TSP may be divided
into first to third Tx blocks B1 to B3. In this instance, in the
block sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit simultaneously
supplies the driving signal to all the Tx lines present in the
first Tx block B1 and then simultaneously supplies the driving
signal to all the Tx lines present in the second Tx blocks B2,
thereby detecting the presence or absence of the touch (or
proximity) input on a per Tx-block basis. Subsequently, the touch
screen driving circuit simultaneously supplies the driving signal
to all the Tx lines present in the third block B3, thereby
detecting the presence or absence of the touch (or proximity) input
in the third Tx block B3. When the touch (or proximity) input is
detected in the second Tx block B2 in the block sensing step, the
touch screen driving circuit proceeds to the partial sensing step.
In the partial sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit
sequentially supplies the driving signal to the Tx lines present in
the second Tx block B2 to precisely sense the touch sensors of the
second Tx block B2. As a result, the touch screen driving circuit
accurately detects a final touch (or proximity) input position. In
the partial sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit does not
sense the first and third Tx blocks B1 and B3, in which no touch
(or proximity) input is detected in the block sensing step.
[0105] As shown in FIG. 12, the touch screen TSP may be divided
into first to fourth Tx blocks B1 to B4. In this instance, in the
block sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit simultaneously
supplies the driving signal to all the Tx lines present in the
first Tx block B1 and then simultaneously supplies the driving
signal to all the Tx lines present in the second Tx blocks B2.
Subsequently, the touch screen driving circuit simultaneously
supplies the driving signal to all the Tx lines present in the
third block B3 and then simultaneously supplies the driving signal
to all the Tx lines present in the fourth Tx blocks B4, thereby
detecting the presence or absence of the touch (or proximity) input
on a per Tx-block basis. When the touch (or proximity) input is
detected in the second Tx block B2 in the block sensing step, the
touch screen driving circuit proceeds to the partial sensing step.
In the partial sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit
sequentially supplies the driving signal to the Tx lines present in
the second Tx block B2 to precisely sense the touch sensors of the
second Tx block B2. As a result, the touch screen driving circuit
accurately detects a final touch (or proximity) input position. In
the partial sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit does not
sense the first, third, and fourth Tx blocks B1, B3, and B4, in
which no touch (or proximity) input is detected in the block
sensing step.
[0106] FIG. 13 is a waveform diagram of the driving signal supplied
to the Tx lines in the case illustrated in FIG. 12.
[0107] FIG. 14 illustrates a block sensing step and a partial
sensing step in a multi-touch (or multi-proximity) input. FIG. 15
is a waveform diagram of the driving signal supplied to the Tx
lines in the case illustrated in FIG. 14.
[0108] As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the block sensing step supplies
the driving signal on a per Tx-block basis to detect the presence
or absence of the touch (or proximity) input on a per Tx-block
basis. If the touch (or proximity) input is detected in each of the
second and third Tx blocks B2 and B3 in the block sensing step, the
partial sensing step is performed. The partial sensing step
sequentially supplies the driving signal to the Tx lines present in
the second Tx block B2 and then sequentially supplies the driving
signal to the Tx lines present in the third Tx block B3, thereby
precisely sensing the touch sensors belonging to the second and
third Tx blocks B2 and B3. Accordingly, when the touch (or
proximity) input is detected in several blocks as the block sensing
result, the second sensing time TP may lengthen. The partial
sensing step does not sense the touch sensors of the first and
fourth Tx blocks B1 and B4 in which no touch (or proximity) input
is detected in the block sensing step.
[0109] As shown in FIGS. 16 and 22, when the touch (or proximity)
input is detected at a boundary between the neighboring Tx blocks
or at a boundary between the neighboring Rx blocks, the partial
sensing method precisely senses the neighboring Tx/Rx blocks close
to the touch (or proximity) input position. FIG. 17 is a waveform
diagram of the driving signal supplied to Tx lines in the case
illustrated in FIG. 16.
[0110] As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, when the touch (or proximity)
input is detected at a boundary between the first and second Tx
blocks B1 and B2 as the block sensing result, the partial sensing
step is performed. The partial sensing step sequentially supplies
the driving signal to the Tx lines present in the first Tx block B1
and then sequentially supplies the driving signal to the Tx lines
present in the second Tx block B2, thereby precisely sensing the
touch sensors belonging to the first and second Tx blocks B1 and
B2. Accordingly, when the touch (or proximity) input is detected at
the boundary between the blocks as the block sensing result, the
second sensing time TP may lengthen. The partial sensing step does
not sense the touch sensors of the third and fourth Tx blocks B3
and B4 in which no touch (or proximity) input is detected in the
block sensing step.
[0111] FIGS. 18 to 22 illustrate a block sensing step and a partial
sensing step when the touch screen TSP is driven in a state being
divided into a plurality of Rx blocks C1 to C4 along the x-axis.
Herein, the x-axis is parallel to a long-axis direction of the Tx
lines as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0112] As shown in FIGS. 18 to 22, in the block sensing step, the
touch screen driving circuit applies the driving signal to the Tx
blocks on a per Tx-block basis as described above and may receive
and sample voltages of the touch sensors belonging to each of the
first to fourth Rx blocks C1 to C4 and may convert the sampled
voltages into digital data. For example, in the block sensing step,
the touch screen driving circuit may simultaneously supply a first
driving signal to the Tx lines of the first Tx block B1 to
simultaneously receive the voltages of the touch sensors through
the Rx lines of the first Rx block C1, and then may simultaneously
supply a second driving signal to the Tx lines of the first Tx
block B1 to simultaneously receive the voltages of the touch
sensors through the Rx lines of the second Rx block C2.
Subsequently, in the block sensing step, the touch screen driving
circuit may simultaneously supply a third driving signal to the Tx
lines of the first Tx block B1 to simultaneously receive the
voltages of the touch sensors through the Rx lines of the third Rx
block C3, and then may simultaneously supply a fourth driving
signal to the Tx lines of the first Tx block B1 to simultaneously
receive the voltages of the touch sensors through the Rx lines of
the fourth Rx block C4. In this way, all the touch sensors of the
first Tx block B1 are sensed in the block sensing step, and then
the touch sensors of the second Tx block B2 are sensed.
[0113] When the touch (or proximity) input is detected in the block
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit proceeds to the
partial sensing step. In the partial sensing step, the touch screen
driving circuit precisely senses all the touch sensors in a
crossing area between a Tx block and an Rx block connected to the
touch sensors, in which the touch (or proximity) input is detected
as the block sensing result. More specifically, in the partial
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit sequentially applies
the driving signal to the Tx lines of the Tx block, in which the
touch (or proximity) input is detected as the block sensing result,
and simultaneously or sequentially receives and samples the touch
sensor voltages through the Rx lines of the Rx block, in which the
touch (or proximity) input is detected as the block sensing result,
to convert the sampled voltages into digital data. In the partial
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit does not apply the
driving signal to the Tx blocks, in which no touch (or proximity)
input is detected as the block sensing result, and does not receive
the touch sensor voltages through the Rx blocks, in which no touch
(or proximity) input is detected as the block sensing result. If no
touch (or proximity) input is detected in all the blocks as the
block sensing result, the partial sensing step is not performed,
and the block sensing step is performed again.
[0114] As shown in FIG. 21, when a multi-touch (or proximity) input
is detected in the plurality of Rx blocks in the block sensing
step, the touch screen driving circuit sequentially applies the
driving signal to the Tx lines of each of the Tx blocks, in which
the touch (or proximity) input is detected, in the partial sensing
step. In the block sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit
simultaneously or sequentially receives and samples the voltages of
the touch sensors through the Rx lines of each of the Rx blocks, in
which the touch (or proximity) input is detected, and converts the
sampled voltages into digital data. In this instance, in the
partial sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit does not
apply the driving signal to the Tx blocks, in which no touch (or
proximity) input is detected in the block sensing step, and does
not receive the touch sensor voltages through the Rx blocks, in
which no touch (or proximity) input is detected in the block
sensing step. If no touch (or proximity) input is detected in all
the blocks as the block sensing result, the partial sensing step is
not performed, and the block sensing step is performed again.
[0115] As shown in FIG. 22, when the touch (or proximity) input is
detected at a boundary between the neighboring Rx blocks in the
block sensing step, the partial sensing step sequentially applies
the driving signal to the Tx lines of the Tx block, in which the
touch (or proximity) input is detected. The touch screen driving
circuit simultaneously or sequentially receives and samples the
touch sensor voltages through the Rx lines of the neighboring Rx
blocks, which border the touch (or proximity) input position
therebetween, and converts the sampled voltages into digital data.
In this instance, in the partial sensing step, the touch screen
driving circuit does not apply the driving signal to the Tx blocks,
in which no touch (or proximity) input is detected in the block
sensing step, and does not receive the touch sensor voltages
through the Rx blocks, in which no touch (or proximity) input is
detected in the block sensing step. If no touch (or proximity)
input is detected in all the blocks as the block sensing result,
the partial sensing step is not performed, and the block sensing
step is performed again.
[0116] As shown in FIG. 23, the embodiment of the invention may
increase a change amount of the voltage of the touch sensor before
and after the touch operation based on a sum of block sensing data
and partial sensing data. In this instance, because a voltage
difference between a no-touch signal (applied when there is no
touch input) and a touch input signal increases, the touch
sensitivity may be further improved. The method illustrated in FIG.
23 may be implemented using a method for adding digital data, which
is sequentially output through the analog-to-digital conversion as
shown in FIG. 24.
[0117] FIG. 24 is a flow chart illustrating a method for driving
the touch sensing device according to a second embodiment of the
invention.
[0118] As shown in FIG. 24, the touch screen driving circuit senses
voltages of the touch sensors on a per block basis in a block
sensing step in step S211. The touch screen driving circuit
converts the voltages of the touch sensors received in the block
sensing step into digital data (i.e., touch raw data TData), and
the touch raw data TData is temporarily stored in a memory 301
(refer to FIG. 25) in step S212. The data stored in the memory 301
as the block sensing result is referred to herein as block sensing
data. When a change amount of digital data, before and after the
touch operation, sensed based on the block sensing result is equal
to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, digital data of
the change amount is determined as touch (or proximity) input data,
and a partial sensing step is performed in steps S213 and S214.
[0119] In the partial sensing step, the touch screen driving
circuit sequentially supplies the driving signal to the Tx lines
present in the Tx block, in which the touch (or proximity) input is
detected, on a per line basis, thereby precisely sensing voltages
of the touch sensors belonging to the touch input Tx block. Hence,
a position of the touch (or proximity) input is detected in step
S214. The voltages of the touch sensors received in the partial
sensing step are converted into digital data (i.e., touch raw data
TData) in step S215. The data obtained as the partial sensing
result is referred to herein as partial sensing data. The touch
screen driving circuit adds the block sensing data, which has been
previously stored in the memory 301, to the partial sensing data
and transmits the addition result to the touch recognition
processor 30 in step S216. The touch recognition processor 30
compares the touch raw data, having a large change amount before
and after the touch operation by adding the block sensing data to
the partial sensing data, with the threshold value and detects the
touch (or proximity) input.
[0120] FIGS. 25 to 27 illustrate in detail a circuit configuration
and an operation of the Rx driving circuit 34 for implementing the
method for driving the touch sensing device according to the second
embodiment of the invention. A pulse signal shown at the top of
FIG. 25 is an example of a driving signal supplied to the Tx lines
T1 to Tj. The driving signal is generated at a voltage of a high
logic level for a time t1 and is generated at a voltage of a low
logic level for a time t2.
[0121] As shown in FIGS. 25 to 27, Tx(i) indicates an ith Tx line
Tx(i), Rx(i) indicates an ith Rx line Rx(i), and Rx(i+1) indicates
an (i+1)th Rx line Rx(i+1), where `i` is a natural number. The
touch sensors are formed between the Tx line Tx(i) and the Rx lines
Rx(i) and Rx(i+1).
[0122] A sampling circuit of the Rx driving circuit 34 receives and
samples voltages of the touch sensors received through the
neighboring Rx lines Rx(i) and Rx(i+1) and supplies a difference
between the sampled voltages to an analog-to-digital converter 341.
For this, the sampling circuit includes a first sampling circuit, a
second sampling circuit, and a comparator COMP for comparing
outputs of the first and second sampling circuits. The comparator
COMP may be implemented as an operational amplifier (op-amp). The
first and second sampling circuits accumulate voltages of the touch
sensors received through the ith Rx line Rx(i) on a first sampling
capacitor C1 each time the driving signal is applied to the ith Tx
line Tx(i), and sample the voltages of the touch sensors. And at
the same time, the first and second sampling circuits accumulate
voltages of the touch sensors received through the (i+1)th Rx line
Rx(i+1) on a second sampling capacitor C1' each time the driving
signal is applied to the ith Tx line Tx(i), and sample the voltages
of the touch sensors.
[0123] The first sampling circuit includes first to fourth switches
S11, S12, S21, and S22, a first sensing capacitor Cs, and the first
sampling capacitor C1. The first sampling circuit samples the
voltages of the touch sensors received through the ith Rx line
Rx(i).
[0124] The first switch S11 is connected to the ith Rx line Rx(i).
The third switch S21 is connected between the first switch S11 and
a ground level voltage source GND. The second switch S12 is
connected between the fourth switch S22 and the ground level
voltage source GND. The fourth switch S22 is connected between the
second switch S12 and a non-inverting input terminal of the
comparator COMP.
[0125] One terminal of the first sensing capacitor Cs is connected
to a first node between the first switch S11 and the third switch
S21. The other terminal of the first sensing capacitor Cs is
connected to a second node between the second switch S12 and the
fourth switch S22. One terminal of the first sampling capacitor C1
is connected to a node between the fourth switch S22 and the
non-inverting input terminal of the comparator COMP. The other
terminal of the first sampling capacitor C1 is connected to a first
output terminal of the comparator COMP.
[0126] The first and second switches S11 and S12 are turned on for
the time t1, in which the driving signal is generated. Hence, as
shown in FIG. 26, a voltage of a first touch sensor connected to
the ith Rx line Rx(i) is stored in the first sensing capacitor Cs.
Subsequently, the third and fourth switches S21 and S22 are turned
on for the time t2, in which the voltage of the ith Tx line Tx(i)
is reduced to the low logic level. Hence, as shown in FIG. 27, the
voltage of the first touch sensor stored in the first sensing
capacitor Cs is sampled by the first sampling capacitor C1.
[0127] The second sampling circuit includes fifth to eighth
switches S11', S12', S21', and S22', a second sensing capacitor
Cs', and the second sampling capacitor C1'. The second sampling
circuit samples the voltages of the touch sensors received through
the (i+1)th Rx line Rx(i+1).
[0128] The fifth switch S11' is connected to the (i+1)th Rx line
Rx(i+1). The seventh switch S21' is connected between the fifth
switch S11' and the ground level voltage source GND. The sixth
switch S12' is connected between the eighth switch S22' and the
ground level voltage source GND. The eighth switch S22' is
connected between the sixth switch S12' and an inverting input
terminal of the comparator COMP.
[0129] One terminal of the second sensing capacitor Cs' is
connected to a third node between the fifth switch S11' and the
seventh switch S21'. The other terminal of the second sensing
capacitor Cs' is connected to a fourth node between the sixth
switch S12' and the eighth switch S22'. One terminal of the second
sampling capacitor C1' is connected to a node between the eighth
switch S22' and the inverting input terminal of the comparator
COMP. The other terminal of the second sampling capacitor C1' is
connected to a second output terminal of the comparator COMP.
[0130] The fifth and sixth switches S11' and S12' are turned on for
the time t1, in which the driving signal is generated. Hence, as
shown in FIG. 26, a voltage of a second touch sensor connected to
the (i+1)th Rx line Rx(i+1) is stored in the second sensing
capacitor Cs'. Subsequently, the seventh and eighth switches S21'
and S22' are turned on for the time t2, in which the voltage of the
ith Tx line Tx(i) is reduced to the low logic level. Hence, as
shown in FIG. 27, the voltage of the second touch sensor stored in
the second sensing capacitor Cs' is sampled by the second sampling
capacitor C1'.
[0131] The comparator COMP supplies the voltage of the first touch
sensor stored in the first sampling capacitor C1 and the voltage of
the second touch sensor stored in the second sampling capacitor C1'
to the analog-to-digital converter 341.
[0132] The analog-to-digital converter 341 converts a difference
between the voltage of the first touch sensor and the voltage of
the second touch sensor into digital data in each of the block
sensing step and the partial sensing step and supplies it to the
touch recognition processor 30.
[0133] The touch recognition processor 30 stores digital data
received as the block sensing result in the memory 301. The touch
recognition processor 30 reads digital data of the partial sensing
result, input after the touch (or proximity) input is detected,
from the memory 301 and then adds the digital data of the partial
sensing result to the digital data of the block sensing result. The
touch recognition processor 30 performs the touch recognition
algorithm and analyzes touch raw data obtained by adding the
digital data of the partial sensing result to the digital data of
the block sensing result, thereby calculating a coordinate value of
a final touch (or proximity) input position.
[0134] As shown in FIGS. 28 to 31, the block sensing step may be
replaced by a fully sensing step. In this instance, the fully
sensing step has a small effect on a reduction in the total sensing
time, but can improve the sensing sensitivity.
[0135] FIG. 28 is a flow chart illustrating a method for driving
the touch sensing device according to a third embodiment of the
invention. FIG. 29 is a waveform diagram illustrating a fully
sensing method.
[0136] As shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the touch screen driving
circuit performs a first scanning process on the touch sensors of
the touch screen TSP using a fully sensing method to sense the
touch sensors in step S281. As shown in FIG. 29, the fully sensing
method sequentially supplies the driving signal to the first to jth
Tx lines T1 to Tj in the order named to sense the touch sensors. In
the third embodiment of the invention, the touch sensors may be
sensed using the method illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 22 (i.e., in the
units of Rx blocks), so as to reduce a sensing time required in the
fully sensing step.
[0137] When the touch (or proximity) input is detected as the fully
sensing result, the touch screen driving circuit proceeds to a
second scanning process, i.e., the partial sensing step. Namely, in
the partial sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit
sequentially supplies the driving signal to the Tx lines, in which
the touch (or proximity) input is detected in the fully sensing
step, on a per line basis, thereby precisely sensing voltages of
the touch sensors present in the touch input Tx lines in step S282
and S283.
[0138] Only when the touch (or proximity) input is detected in the
fully sensing step, the partial sensing step is performed
subsequent to the fully sensing step. On the other hand, if no
touch (or proximity) input is detected in the fully sensing step,
the fully sensing step is again performed or the block sensing step
is performed.
[0139] As shown in FIG. 30, the third embodiment of the invention
may increase a change amount of the voltage of the touch sensor
before and after the touch operation based on a sum of fully
sensing data and partial sensing data. In this instance, because a
voltage difference between a no-touch signal (applied when there is
no touch input) and a touch input signal increases, the touch
sensitivity may be further improved. The method illustrated in FIG.
30 may be implemented using a method for adding digital data, which
is sequentially output through the analog-to-digital conversion as
shown in FIG. 31.
[0140] As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, the touch screen driving
circuit sequentially supplies the driving signal to the Tx lines T1
to Tj on a per line basis in the fully sensing step to sense
voltages of the touch sensors in step S311. The touch screen
driving circuit converts the voltages of the touch sensors received
in the fully sensing step into digital data (i.e., touch raw data
TData), and the touch raw data TData is temporarily stored in the
memory 301 (refer to FIG. 25) in step 3212. The data stored in the
memory 301 as the fully sensing result is referred to herein as
fully sensing data. When a change amount of digital data, before
and after the touch operation, sensed based on the fully sensing
result is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value,
digital data of the change amount is determined as touch (or
proximity) input data, and a partial sensing step is performed in
steps S313 and S314.
[0141] In the partial sensing step, the touch screen driving
circuit sequentially supplies the driving signal to the Tx lines,
in which the touch (or proximity) input is detected, on a per line
basis, thereby precisely sensing voltages of the touch sensors
present in the touch input Tx lines. Hence, a position of the touch
(or proximity) input is detected in step S314. The voltages of the
touch sensors received in the partial sensing step are converted
into digital data (i.e., touch raw data TData) in step S315. The
data obtained as the partial sensing result is referred to herein
as partial sensing data. The touch screen driving circuit adds the
fully sensing data, which has been previously stored in the memory
301, to the partial sensing data and transmits the addition result
to the touch recognition processor 30 in step S316. The touch
recognition processor 30 compares the touch raw data, having a
large change amount before and after the touch operation by adding
the fully sensing data to the partial sensing data, with the
threshold value and detects the touch (or proximity) input.
[0142] In the embodiments of the invention, the block sensing step
detects the touch (or proximity) input and may be repeatedly
performed two or more times so as to reduce power consumption. This
will be described below with reference to FIGS. 32 to 44.
[0143] FIG. 32 is a flow chart illustrating a method for driving
the touch sensing device according to a fourth embodiment of the
invention. FIGS. 33 and 34 illustrate a block sensing period and a
partial sensing period in the method for driving the touch sensing
device according to the fourth embodiment of the invention.
[0144] In the fourth embodiment of the invention, the touch screen
TSP may be virtually divided into a plurality of blocks. The blocks
may be divided into a plurality of first blocks, each of which is
set to a first block sensing area, and each of the first blocks may
be divided into a plurality of second blocks, each of which is set
to a second block sensing area. Each of the second blocks may be
divided into a plurality of third blocks, each of which is set to a
third block sensing area. Thus, the size of the second block is
less than the size of the first block, and the size of the third
block is less than the size of the second block. A minimum size of
the block is set to the size including at least two Tx lines and at
least two Rx lines.
[0145] As shown in FIGS. 32 to 34, the method for driving the touch
sensing device according to the fourth embodiment of the invention
initialize the touch screen driving circuit and the touch sensors
of the touch screen TSP in step S321. Subsequently, the method
senses the touch sensors of the first blocks on a per block basis
during a first block sensing period TB1 in step S322.
[0146] During the first block sensing period TB1, the method
simultaneously supplies the driving signal to the Tx lines present
in one first block to simultaneously sense voltages of all the
touch sensors present in the one first block and then
simultaneously senses voltages of all the touch sensors of another
first block in the same manner. Because the driving signal is
simultaneously applied to all the Tx lines present in one first
block during the first block sensing period TB1, the first block
sensing period TB1 of one first block merely correspond to a
sensing time of one line in the related art.
[0147] The method may analyze touch raw data obtained in a first
block sensing step and when a change amount of the touch sensor
voltage before and after the touch operation is equal to or greater
than a predetermined threshold value, may determine touch raw data
of change amount as data of the touch (or proximity) input
position, thereby detecting the presence or absence of the touch
(or proximity) input in step S323. When it is determined that no
touch (or proximity) input of the touch screen TSP is detected as a
first block sensing result, the method disables the touch screen
driving circuit for a predetermined idle time Tidle (refer to FIG.
33) in step S324. Because the touch screen driving circuit is
disabled for the idle time Tidle, the touch screen driving circuit
does not generate any output and does not sense the touch sensors.
Thus, power consumption of the touch screen driving circuit and the
touch screen TSP is controlled at a minimum level for the idle time
Tidle. The idle time Tidle may be properly selected in
consideration of the sensitivity of the touch screen TSP and the
power consumption. For example, the idle time Tidle may be
determined between about 0.1 mse to 50 msec in consideration of the
sensitivity of the touch screen TSP and the power consumption.
[0148] If it is determined that no touch (or proximity) input of
the touch screen TSP is detected as the first block sensing result,
the host system may control a power source of the touch screen
driving circuit or an enable/disable signal, thereby stopping an
operation of the touch screen driving circuit. The host system
analyzes an output of the touch recognition processor 30. Hence, if
it is determined that no touch (or proximity) input of the touch
screen TSP is detected as the first block sensing result, the host
system controls a power input switch (not shown) of an IC, in which
the touch screen driving circuit is embedded, thereby blocking a
driving power source Vcc of the ROIC for the idle time Tidle. When
the driving power source Vcc is not supplied to the touch screen
driving circuit, the touch screen driving circuit stops working and
does not generate the output. The host system counts the idle time
Tidle using a counter and again supplies the driving power source
Vcc to the touch screen driving circuit after the idle time Tidle
passed.
[0149] The host system analyzes the output of the touch recognition
processor 30. Hence, if it is determined that no touch (or
proximity) input of the touch screen TSP is detected as the first
block sensing result, the host system inverts an enable/disable
signal EN of the ROIC, in which the touch screen driving circuit is
embedded, to a logic value of a disable state for the idle time
Tidle, thereby stopping an operation of the touch screen driving
circuit. The host system counts the idle time Tidle using the
counter and again inverts a logic value of the enable/disable
signal EN to a logic value of an enable state after the idle time
Tidle passed, thereby again enabling the touch screen driving
circuit.
[0150] The steps S321 to S324 correspond to an idle sensing mode,
in which when no touch (or proximity) input of the touch screen TSP
is detected as the first block sensing result, the first block
sensing step is again performed after the predetermined idle time
Tidle passed.
[0151] When it is determined that the touch (or proximity) input is
detected as the first block sensing result in the step S323, the
method for driving the touch sensing device proceeds to a second
block sensing step and thus senses the touch sensors of the second
blocks divided from the first block, in which the touch (or
proximity) input is detected, on a per block basis in the step
S325. The method simultaneously supplies the driving signal to the
Tx lines present in one second block in the second block sensing
step and simultaneously senses the touch sensors present in the one
second block. Thus, time required to sense one second block merely
correspond to a sensing time of one line in the related art.
[0152] The method for driving the touch sensing device may analyze
touch raw data obtained in the second block sensing step, and when
a change amount of the touch sensor voltage before and after the
touch operation is equal to or greater than a predetermined
threshold value, determines touch raw data of the change amount as
touch (or proximity) input data, thereby detecting the presence or
absence of the touch (or proximity) input.
[0153] When it is determined that the touch (or proximity) input is
detected as a second block sensing result, the method for driving
the touch sensing device confirms the presence of the touch (or
proximity) input determined in the first block sensing step. The
method proceeds to a partial sensing step in steps S326 and S327,
so as to precisely sense touch (or proximity) input data. On the
contrary, when it is determined that no touch (or proximity) input
is detected as the second block sensing result, the method
determines the touch (or proximity) input determined in the first
block sensing step as a touch error resulting from a noise. Hence,
the method does not proceed to the partial sensing step and
proceeds to the step S321 to repeatedly perform the first block
sensing step. The second block sensing step examines the first
block sensing result and also more precisely senses a position of
the touch (or proximity) input obtained as the first block sensing
result.
[0154] The method for driving the touch sensing device sequentially
supplies the driving signal to the Tx lines present in the second
block, in which the touch (or proximity) input is detected, on a
per line basis during a partial sensing period TP, thereby
precisely sensing the position of the touch (or proximity) input in
step S327. The method compares touch raw data produced as the
partial sensing result with a predetermined threshold value, and
when a change amount of the touch sensor voltage before and after
the touch operation is equal to or greater than the threshold
value, determines touch raw data of the change amount as touch (or
proximity) input data. Subsequently, the method performs the touch
recognition algorithm and estimates coordinates of the touch (or
proximity) input data obtained as the partial sensing result. The
method outputs coordinate data HIDxy including coordinate
information of the touch (or proximity) input position.
[0155] The steps S325 to S327 correspond to a normal sensing mode,
in which the coordinates of the touch (or proximity) input position
are estimated. In the normal sensing mode, the touch screen driving
circuit is enabled to generate the driving signal and repeatedly
performs the sensing operation. Thus, the touch screen driving
circuit generates the power consumption of a normal driving level
in the normal sensing mode.
[0156] As shown in FIG. 34, a second block sensing period TB2
depends on the number of touch (or proximity) inputs detected in
the touch screen TSP. As the number of touch (or proximity) inputs
increases as the first block sensing result, the number of first
blocks, on which the second block sensing step is performed,
increases. Hence, the second block sensing period TB2 lengthens.
Further, a partial sensing period TP depends on the number of touch
(or proximity) inputs detected in the touch screen TSP. As the
number of touch (or proximity) inputs increases as the second block
sensing result, the number of second blocks, on which the partial
sensing step is performed, increases. Hence, the partial sensing
period TP lengthens.
[0157] When the touch (or proximity) input is detected as the
second block sensing result, the method for driving the touch
sensing device does not immediately proceed to the partial sensing
step and additionally performs the block sensing step one or more
times while reducing the size of the first block sensing area to
one half Then, when the touch (or proximity) input is again
detected, the method may proceed to the partial sensing step. For
example, as shown in FIGS. 41 to 44, the method performs a third
block sensing step on each of the third blocks reduced to one half
of the size of the second block, in which the touch (or proximity)
input is detected as the second block sensing result, between the
step S326 and the step S327. In this instance, when the touch (or
proximity) input is detected as a third block sensing result, the
method may proceed to a fourth block sensing step or the partial
sensing step.
[0158] FIG. 35 illustrates an example of a method for dividing the
touch screen. FIG. 36 illustrates an example of sub-blocks divided
from a block, in which a touch input is detected among the
plurality of blocks shown in FIG. 35. FIG. 37 illustrates a partial
sensing method performed inside a sub-block, in which a touch input
is detected among the sub-blocks shown in FIG. 36. FIG. 38 is a
waveform diagram illustrating a block sensing method and a partial
sensing method in the case illustrated in FIGS. 35 to 37. In FIGS.
35 to 38, it is assumed that the 16 Tx lines and the 24 Rx lines
are arranged on the touch screen TSP. FIGS. 35 to 38 show an
example of the touch screen TSP for the sake of brevity and ease of
reading. Other block sizes, other numbers of Tx lines, other
numbers of Rx lines, etc. may be used for the touch screen TSP.
[0159] As shown in FIGS. 35 to 38, the touch screen TSP may be
virtually divided into first to fourth blocks BL1 to BL4.
[0160] As shown in FIGS. 35 and 38, in a first block sensing step,
the Tx driving circuit 32 simultaneously supplies a first driving
signal P11 to the Tx lines T1 to T16 and then simultaneously
supplies a second driving signal P12 to the Tx lines T1 to T16.
Subsequently, the Tx driving circuit 32 simultaneously supplies a
third driving signal P13 to the Tx lines T1 to T16 and then
simultaneously supplies a fourth driving signal P14 to the Tx lines
T1 to T16. Each of the driving signals P11 to P14 may include a
plurality of pulses.
[0161] As shown in FIGS. 35 and 38, in the first block sensing
step, the Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch
sensors in synchronization with the first driving signal P11
through the Rx lines R1 to R6 of a first Rx block GRx1(R1-R6),
samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled
voltages into digital data. Then, the Rx driving circuit 34
receives voltages of the touch sensors in synchronization with the
second driving signal P12 through the Rx lines R7 to R12 of a
second Rx block GRx2(R7-R12), samples the voltages of the touch
sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into digital data.
Subsequently, the Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the
touch sensors in synchronization with the third driving signal P13
through the Rx lines R13 to R18 of a third Rx block GRx3(R13-R18),
samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled
voltages into digital data. Then, the Rx driving circuit 34
receives voltages of the touch sensors in synchronization with the
fourth driving signal P14 through the Rx lines R19 to R24 of a
fourth Rx block GRx4(R19-R24), samples the voltages of the touch
sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into digital data.
[0162] The first Rx block GRx1(R1-R6) includes the Rx lines R1 to
R6 connected to the touch sensors of the first block BL1. The
second Rx block GRx2(R7-R12) includes the Rx lines R7 to R12
connected to the touch sensors of the second block BL2. The third
Rx block GRx3(R13-R18) includes the Rx lines R13 to R18 connected
to the touch sensors of the third block BL3. The fourth Rx block
GRx4(R19-R24) includes the Rx lines R19 to R248 connected to the
touch sensors of the fourth block BL4.
[0163] The touch recognition processor 30 compares touch raw data
received from the Rx driving circuit 34 as a first block sensing
result with a predetermined threshold value and determines the
presence or absence of a touch (or proximity) input. When the touch
(or proximity) input is detected in the third block BL3 as the
first block sensing result as shown in FIG. 35, the third block BL3
is virtually subdivided into first to fourth sub-blocks BL31 to
BL34 as shown in FIG. 36. When no touch (or proximity) input is
detected as the first block sensing result, the touch screen
driving circuit is held in an idle sensing mode for a predetermined
idle time Tidle.
[0164] When the touch (or proximity) input is detected as the first
block sensing result, the Tx driving circuit 32 proceeds to a
second block sensing step. As shown in FIGS. 36 and 38, the Tx
driving circuit 32 simultaneously supplies a first driving signal
P21 to the Tx lines T1 to T4 connected to the touch sensors of the
first sub-block BL31, and then simultaneously supplies a second
driving signal P22 to the Tx lines T5 to T8 connected to the touch
sensors of the second sub-block BL32. Subsequently, the Tx driving
circuit 32 simultaneously supplies a third driving signal P23 to
the Tx lines T9 to T12 connected to the touch sensors of the third
sub-block BL33, and then simultaneously supplies a fourth driving
signal P24 to the Tx lines T13 to T16 connected to the touch
sensors of the fourth sub-block BL34. Each of the driving signals
P21 to P24 may include a plurality of pulses in the same manner as
the driving signals P11 to P14.
[0165] As shown in FIGS. 36 and 38, in the second block sensing
step, the Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch
sensors of the third sub-block BL33, in which the touch (or
proximity) input is detected as the first block sensing result, in
synchronization with the driving signals P21 to P24. More
specifically, the Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the
touch sensors in synchronization with the first driving signal P21
through the Rx lines R13 to R18 of the third Rx block
GRx3(R13-R18), samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and
converts the sampled voltages into digital data. Then, the Rx
driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch sensors in
synchronization with the second driving signal P22 through the Rx
lines R13 to R18 of the third Rx block GRx3(R13-R18), samples the
voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled voltages
into digital data. Subsequently, the Rx driving circuit 34 receives
voltages of the touch sensors in synchronization with the third
driving signal P23 through the Rx lines R13 to R18 of the third Rx
block GRx3(R13-R18), samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and
converts the sampled voltages into digital data. Then, the Rx
driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch sensors in
synchronization with the fourth driving signal P24 through the Rx
lines R13 to R18 of the third Rx block GRx3(R13-R18), samples the
voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled voltages
into digital data.
[0166] The touch recognition processor 30 compares touch raw data
received from the Rx driving circuit 34 as a second block sensing
result with a predetermined threshold value and determines the
presence or absence of the touch (or proximity) input. When the
touch (or proximity) input is detected in the third sub-block BL33
as the second block sensing result as shown in FIG. 36, a partial
sensing step is performed on the third sub-block BL33. In the
partial sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit sequentially
supplies the driving signal to the Tx lines on a per line basis and
simultaneously sets the Rx channel on a per Rx-block basis or
sequentially sets the Rx channel on a per Rx-block basis in
synchronization with the driving signals, thereby precisely sensing
each of the touch sensors. On the other hand, when no touch (or
proximity) input is detected as the second block sensing result,
the touch screen driving circuit performs the first block step.
[0167] When the touch (or proximity) input is detected as the
second block sensing result, the Tx driving circuit 32 proceeds to
the partial sensing step. As shown in FIG. 37, in the partial
sensing step, the Tx driving circuit 32 sequentially supplies first
to fourth driving signals P31 to P34 (refer to FIG. 38) to the Tx
lines T9 to T12 connected to the touch sensors of the third
sub-block BL33. Each of the driving signals P31 to P34 may include
a plurality of pulses in the same manner as the driving
signals.
[0168] As shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, in the partial sensing step,
the Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch sensors in
synchronization with the first driving signal P31 through the Rx
lines R13 to R18 of the third Rx block GRx3(R13-R18), samples the
voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled voltages
into digital data. Then, the Rx driving circuit 34 receives
voltages of the touch sensors in synchronization with the second
driving signal P32 through the Rx lines R13 to R18 of the third Rx
block GRx3(R13-R18), samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and
converts the sampled voltages into digital data. Subsequently, the
Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch sensors in
synchronization with the third driving signal P33 through the Rx
lines R13 to R18 of the third Rx block GRx3(R13-R18), samples the
voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled voltages
into digital data. Then, the Rx driving circuit 34 receives
voltages of the touch sensors in synchronization with the fourth
driving signal P34 through the Rx lines R13 to R18 of the third Rx
block GRx3(R13-R18), samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and
converts the sampled voltages into digital data.
[0169] The touch recognition processor 30 compares touch raw data
received from the Rx driving circuit 34 as a partial sensing result
with a predetermined threshold value and determines a position of
the touch (or proximity) input. The touch recognition processor 30
performs a touch recognition algorithm and estimates a coordinate
value of the touch (or proximity) input position. The touch
recognition processor 30 outputs coordinate data HIDxy including
coordinate information of the touch (or proximity) input position
detected as the partial sensing result.
[0170] When a multi-touch (or proximity) input is detected as the
first block sensing result as shown in FIG. 39, a second block
sensing period TB2 and a partial sensing period TP lengthen as
shown in FIG. 40.
[0171] FIG. 39 illustrates an example of a multi-touch input, in
which a touch input is generated in the two blocks of the first to
fourth blocks BL1 to BL4 shown in FIG. 35. FIG. 40 is a waveform
diagram illustrating a block sensing method and a partial sensing
method in the multi-touch input shown in FIG. 39. In FIGS. 39 and
40, it is assumed that the 16 Tx lines and the 24 Rx lines are
arranged on the touch screen TSP. FIGS. 39 and 40 show an example
of the touch screen TSP for the sake of brevity and ease of
reading. Other block sizes, other numbers of Tx lines, other
numbers of Rx lines, etc. may be used for the touch screen TSP.
[0172] As shown in FIGS. 39 and 40, the touch screen TSP may be
virtually divided into a plurality of first to fourth blocks BL1 to
BL4.
[0173] As shown in FIG. 39, when a touch (or proximity) input is
detected in each of the two blocks BL2 and BL3 as a first block
sensing result, the touch screen driving circuit proceeds to a
second block sensing step. In the second block sensing step, each
of the two blocks BL2 and BL3, in which the touch (or proximity)
input is detected, is divided into a plurality of sub-blocks.
[0174] More specifically, when the multi-touch (or proximity) input
is detected as the first block sensing result as shown in FIG. 39,
the Tx driving circuit 32 proceeds to the second block sensing
step. As shown in FIG. 40, the Tx driving circuit 32 sequentially
supplies driving signals P21 to P24 to the sub-blocks divided form
the second block BL2 on a per block basis, and then sequentially
supplies driving signals P31 to P34 to the second blocks divided
form the third block BL3 on a per block basis.
[0175] In the second block sensing step, the Rx driving circuit 34
receives voltages of the touch sensors of the second block BL2
through the Rx lines R7 to R12 of a second Rx block GRx2(R7-R12)
connected to the touch sensors of the second block BL2 in
synchronization with the driving signals P21 to P24, samples the
voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled voltages
into digital data. Subsequently, the Rx driving circuit 34 receives
voltages of the touch sensors of the third block BL3 through the Rx
lines R13 to R18 of a third Rx block GRx3(R13-R18) connected to the
touch sensors of the third block BL3 in synchronization with the
driving signals P31 to P34, samples the voltages of the touch
sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into digital data.
[0176] The touch recognition processor 30 compares touch raw data
received from the Rx driving circuit 34 as a second block sensing
result with a predetermined threshold value and determines the
presence or absence of the touch (or proximity) input. It is
assumed that the touch (or proximity) input is detected in a first
sub-block of the sub-blocks divided form the second block BL2 and
in a third sub-block of the sub-blocks divided form the third block
BL3 as the second block sensing result. In this instance, the Tx
driving circuit 32 proceeds to the partial sensing step. As shown
in FIG. 40, in the partial sensing step, the Tx driving circuit 32
sequentially supplies first to fourth driving signals P41 to P44 to
the Tx lines T1 to T4 of the first sub-block divided form the
second block BL2, and then sequentially supplies fifth to eighth
driving signals P45 to P48 to the Tx lines T9 to T12 of the third
sub-block divided form the third block BL3. Each of the driving
signals P41 to P48 may include a plurality of pulses in the same
manner as the driving signals.
[0177] In the partial sensing step, the Rx driving circuit 34
sequentially receives voltages of the touch sensors in
synchronization with the first driving signal P41 through the
second Rx block GRx2(R7-R12), samples the voltages of the touch
sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into digital data. Then,
the Rx driving circuit 34 sequentially receives voltages of the
touch sensors in synchronization with the second driving signal P42
through the second Rx block GRx2(R7-R12), samples the voltages of
the touch sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into digital
data. Subsequently, the Rx driving circuit 34 sequentially receives
voltages of the touch sensors in synchronization with the third
driving signal P43 through the second Rx block GRx2(R7-R12),
samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled
voltages into digital data. Then, the Rx driving circuit 34
sequentially receives voltages of the touch sensors in
synchronization with the fourth driving signal P44 through the
second Rx block GRx2(R7-R12), samples the voltages of the touch
sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into digital data.
Subsequently, the Rx driving circuit 34 sequentially receives
voltages of the touch sensors in synchronization with the fifth
driving signal P45 through the third Rx block GRx3(R13-R18),
samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled
voltages into digital data. Then the Rx driving circuit 34
sequentially receives voltages of the touch sensors in
synchronization with the sixth driving signal P46 through the third
Rx block GRx3(R13-R18), samples the voltages of the touch sensors,
and converts the sampled voltages into digital data. Subsequently,
the Rx driving circuit 34 sequentially receives voltages of the
touch sensors in synchronization with the seventh driving signal
P47 through the third Rx block GRx3(R13-R18), samples the voltages
of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into
digital data. Then, the Rx driving circuit 34 sequentially receives
voltages of the touch sensors in synchronization with the eighth
driving signal P48 through the third Rx block GRx3(R13-R18),
samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled
voltages into digital data.
[0178] The touch recognition processor 30 compares touch raw data
received from the Rx driving circuit 34 as a partial sensing result
with a predetermined threshold value and determines a position of
the touch (or proximity) input. The touch recognition processor 30
performs a touch recognition algorithm and estimates a coordinate
value of each of positions of the multi-touch (or proximity) input.
The touch recognition processor 30 outputs coordinate data HIDxy
including coordinate information of the multi-touch (or proximity)
input positions detected as the partial sensing result.
[0179] FIG. 41 illustrates another example of a method for dividing
the touch screen. FIG. 42 illustrates an example of sub-blocks
divided from a block, in which a touch input is detected among a
plurality of blocks shown in FIG. 41. FIG. 43 illustrates an
example of re-subdivided blocks divided from a sub-block, in which
a touch input is detected among sub-blocks shown in FIG. 42. FIG.
44 is a waveform diagram illustrating a block sensing method and a
partial sensing method in the case illustrated in FIGS. 41 to 43.
In FIGS. 41 to 44, it is assumed that the 16 Tx lines and the 24 Rx
lines are arranged on the touch screen TSP. FIGS. 41 to 44 show an
example of the touch screen TSP for the sake of brevity and ease of
reading. Other block sizes, other numbers of Tx lines, other
numbers of Rx lines, etc. may be used for the touch screen TSP.
[0180] As shown in FIGS. 41 to 44, the touch screen TSP may be
divided into two halves in a vertical direction (or the y-axis
direction or the Rx-line direction). In this instance, the touch
screen TSP is virtually divided into first and second blocks BL1
and BL2. The size of each of the first and second blocks BL1 and
BL2 may be determined to one half of an entire touch recognition
area of the touch screen TSP, but is not limited thereto. For
example, the sizes of the first and second blocks BL1 and BL2 may
be substantially equal to each other or may be different from each
other.
[0181] As shown in FIGS. 41 and 44, in a first block sensing step,
the Tx driving circuit 32 simultaneously supplies a first driving
signal P51 to the Tx lines T1 to T8 connected to the touch sensors
of the first block BL1, and then simultaneously supplies a second
driving signal P52 to the Tx lines T9 to T16 connected to the touch
sensors of the second block BL2. Each of the driving signals P51
and 52 may include a plurality of pulses.
[0182] As shown in FIGS. 41 and 44, in the first block sensing
step, the Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch
sensors in synchronization with the first driving signal P51
through the Rx lines R1 to R24, samples the voltages of the touch
sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into digital data.
Subsequently, the Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the
touch sensors in synchronization with the second driving signal P52
through the Rx lines R1 to R24, samples the voltages of the touch
sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into digital data.
[0183] The touch recognition processor 30 compares touch raw data
received from the Rx driving circuit 34 as a first block sensing
result with a predetermined threshold value and determines the
presence or absence of a touch (or proximity) input. When the touch
(or proximity) input is detected in the first block BL1 as the
first block sensing result as shown in FIG. 41, the first block BL1
is divided into two halves in the vertical direction (or the y-axis
direction) as shown in FIG. 42. In this instance, as shown in FIG.
42, the first block BL1 is divided into first and second sub-blocks
BL11 and BL12. The size of each of the first and second sub-blocks
BL11 and BL12 may be determined to one half of the size of the
first block BL1.
[0184] When no touch (or proximity) input is detected as the first
block sensing result, the touch screen driving circuit is held in
an idle sensing mode for a predetermined idle time Tidle in the
same manner as the above-described embodiments, so as to reduce the
power consumption.
[0185] When the touch (or proximity) input is detected as the first
block sensing result, the Tx driving circuit 32 proceeds to a
second block sensing step. As shown in FIGS. 42 and 44, the Tx
driving circuit 32 simultaneously supplies a first driving signal
P61 to the Tx lines T1 to T4 connected to the touch sensors of the
first sub-block BL11. Subsequently, the Tx driving circuit 32
simultaneously supplies a second driving signal P62 to the Tx lines
T5 to T8 connected to the touch sensors of the second sub-block
BL12. Each of the driving signals P61 and 62 may include a
plurality of pulses in the same manner as the driving signals. In
the second block sensing step, the Tx driving circuit 32 does not
apply the driving signal to the Tx lines T9 to T16 belonging to the
second block BL2, in which no touch (or proximity) input is
detected as the first block sensing result.
[0186] As shown in FIGS. 42 and 44, in the second block sensing
step, the Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch
sensors of the first sub-block BL11 in synchronization with the
first driving signal P61 through the Rx lines R1 to R24, samples
the voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled
voltages into digital data. Subsequently, the Rx driving circuit 34
receives voltages of the touch sensors of the second sub-block BL12
in synchronization with the second driving signal P62 through the
Rx lines R1 to R24, samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and
converts the sampled voltages into digital data.
[0187] The touch recognition processor 30 compares touch raw data
received from the Rx driving circuit 34 as a second block sensing
result with a predetermined threshold value and determines the
presence or absence of the touch (or proximity) input. When the
touch (or proximity) input is detected in the second sub-block BL12
as the second block sensing result as shown in FIG. 42, the second
sub-block BL12 is divided into two halves in the vertical direction
(or the y-axis direction) as shown in FIG. 43. In this instance, as
shown in FIG. 43, the second sub-block BL12 is divided into first
and second re-subdivided blocks BL121 and BL122. The size of each
of the first and second re-subdivided blocks BL121 and BL122 may be
determined to one half of the size of the second sub-block BL12.
The touch screen driving circuit is held in an idle sensing mode
for a predetermine period of time, in which no touch (or proximity)
input is detected as the second block sensing result, and then
proceeds to the first block sensing step. The idle sensing mode may
be omitted.
[0188] When the touch (or proximity) input is detected as the
second block sensing result, the Tx driving circuit 32 proceeds to
a third block sensing step. As shown in FIGS. 43 and 44, the Tx
driving circuit 32 simultaneously supplies a first driving signal
P71 to the Tx lines T5 and T6 connected to the touch sensors of the
first re-subdivided block BL121. Subsequently, the Tx driving
circuit 32 simultaneously supplies a second driving signal P72 to
the Tx lines T7 and T8 connected to the touch sensors of the second
re-subdivided block BL122. Each of the driving signals P71 and 72
may include a plurality of pulses in the same manner as the driving
signals. In the third block sensing step, the Tx driving circuit 32
does not apply the driving signal to the Tx lines T1 to T4
belonging to the first sub-block BL11, in which no touch (or
proximity) input is detected as the second block sensing result,
and the Tx lines T9 to T16 belonging to the second block BL2, in
which no touch (or proximity) input is detected as the first block
sensing result.
[0189] As shown in FIGS. 43 and 44, in the third block sensing
step, the Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch
sensors of the first re-subdivided block BL121 in synchronization
with the first driving signal P71 through the Rx lines R1 to R24,
samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled
voltages into digital data. Subsequently, the Rx driving circuit 34
receives voltages of the touch sensors of the second re-subdivided
block BL122 in synchronization with the second driving signal P72
through the Rx lines R1 to R24, samples the voltages of the touch
sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into digital data.
[0190] The touch recognition processor 30 compares touch raw data
received from the Rx driving circuit 34 as a third block sensing
result with a predetermined threshold value and determines the
presence or absence of the touch (or proximity) input. When the
touch (or proximity) input is detected in the second re-subdivided
block BL122 as the third block sensing result as shown in FIG. 43,
a partial sensing process is performed on the second re-subdivided
block BL122. Because each re-subdivided block is no longer divided,
a partial sensing step is performed subsequent to the third block
sensing step if the touch (or proximity) input is detected as the
third block sensing result. If the touch (or proximity) input of
the predetermined size is detected in the second block sensing step
or the third block sensing step, the partial sensing step is not
performed subsequent to the second block sensing step or the third
block sensing step. Immediately, the touch recognition algorithm is
performed, and the coordinates of the touch (or proximity) input
position maybe estimated.
[0191] As shown in FIGS. 43 and 44, the Tx driving circuit 32
proceeds to the partial sensing step. In the partial sensing step,
the Tx driving circuit 32 sequentially supplies first and second
driving signals P81 and 82 to the Tx lines T7 and T8 connected to
the touch sensors of the second re-subdivided block BL122. Each of
the driving signals P81 and 82 may include a plurality of pulses in
the same manner as the driving signals.
[0192] As shown in FIGS. 43 and 44, in the partial sensing step,
the Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch sensors in
synchronization with the first driving signal P81 through the Rx
lines R1 to R24, samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and
converts the sampled voltages into digital data. Subsequently, the
Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch sensors in
synchronization with the second driving signal P82 through the Rx
lines R1 to R24, samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and
converts the sampled voltages into digital data.
[0193] The touch recognition processor 30 compares touch raw data
received from the Rx driving circuit 34 as a partial sensing result
with a predetermined threshold value and determines a position of
the touch (or proximity) input. The touch recognition processor 30
performs the touch recognition algorithm and estimates a coordinate
value of the touch (or proximity) input position. The touch
recognition processor 30 outputs coordinate data HIDxy including
coordinate information of the touch (or proximity) input position
detected as the partial sensing result.
[0194] If the sensing area is fixed in the partial sensing step,
the touch (or proximity) input position may be inaccurately
processed. This is described in detail below with reference to
FIGS. 45 to 47.
[0195] As shown in FIGS. 45 to 47, each Tx block may be divided
into a plurality of Rx blocks. A first Tx block includes first to
third blocks B11 to B13 sharing first to fourth Tx lines T1 to T4.
A second Tx block includes fourth to sixth blocks B21 to B23
sharing fifth to eighth Tx lines T5 to T8. A third Tx block
includes seventh to ninth blocks B31 to B33 sharing ninth to
twelfth Tx lines T9 to T12. The first to ninth blocks B11 to B33
have a lattice structure defined by a crossing of the Tx blocks and
the Rx blocks.
[0196] A block sensing step quickly detects the presence or absence
of a touch (or proximity) input based on the Tx blocks. A partial
sensing step precisely senses the touch sensors of a block, in
which the touch (or proximity) input is detected.
[0197] In the block sensing step, the Tx driving circuit 32
simultaneously supplies driving signals P11 to P13 to the first to
fourth Tx lines T1 to T4 so as to sense voltages of the touch
sensors of the first Tx blocks B11 to B13, and then simultaneously
supplies driving signals P21 to P23 to the fifth to eighth Tx lines
T5 to T8 so as to sense voltages of the touch sensors of the second
Tx blocks B21 to B23. Subsequently, the Tx driving circuit 32
simultaneously supplies driving signals P31 to P33 to the ninth to
twelfth Tx lines T9 to T12 so as to sense voltages of the touch
sensors of the third Tx blocks B31 to B33.
[0198] In the block sensing step, the Rx driving circuit 34
receives voltages of the touch sensors of the first block B11 in
synchronization with the driving signal P11 through the first to
fourth Rx lines R1 to R4, samples the voltages of the touch
sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into digital data. The
Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch sensors of the
second block B12 in synchronization with the driving signal P12
through the fifth to eighth Rx lines R5 to R8, samples the voltages
of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into
digital data. The Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the
touch sensors of the third block B13 in synchronization with the
driving signal P13 through the ninth to twelfth Rx lines R9 to R12,
samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled
voltages into digital data.
[0199] Further, in the block sensing step, the Rx driving circuit
34 receives voltages of the touch sensors of the fourth block B21
in synchronization with the driving signal P21 through the first to
fourth Rx lines R1 to R4, samples the voltages of the touch
sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into digital data. The
Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch sensors of the
fifth block B22 in synchronization with the driving signal P22
through the fifth to eighth Rx lines R5 to R8, samples the voltages
of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into
digital data. The Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the
touch sensors of the sixth block B23 in synchronization with the
driving signal P23 through the ninth to twelfth Rx lines R9 to R12,
samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled
voltages into digital data.
[0200] Further, in the block sensing step, the Rx driving circuit
34 receives voltages of the touch sensors of the seventh block B31
in synchronization with the driving signal P31 through the first to
fourth Rx lines R1 to R4, samples the voltages of the touch
sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into digital data. The
Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch sensors of the
eighth block B32 in synchronization with the driving signal P32
through the fifth to eighth Rx lines R5 to R8, samples the voltages
of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled voltages into
digital data. The Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the
touch sensors of the ninth block B33 in synchronization with the
driving signal P33 through the ninth to twelfth Rx lines R9 to R12,
samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the sampled
voltages into digital data.
[0201] When the touch (or proximity) input is detected in the fifth
block B22 as a block sensing result as shown in FIG. 45, the touch
screen driving circuit proceeds to the partial sensing step. In the
partial sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit sequentially
supplies driving signals to the fifth to eighth Tx lines T5 to T8,
thereby sensing the touch sensors of the fifth block B22.
[0202] The touch screen driving circuit has to accurately find a
center point of a touch (or proximity) input area, so as to
accurately calculate the touch (or proximity) input position. For
example, as shown in FIG. 45, when a touch (or proximity) input
position is present at a right edge of the fifth block B22, a
center point of a touch (or proximity) input area may be shifted if
the partial sensing step is performed only on the fifth block B22.
In this instance, a change amount of the voltage of the touch
sensors positioned at the right edge of the fifth block B22 before
and after a touch operation increases to a value equal to or
greater than a threshold value Vth, and thus the fifth block B22 is
recognized as the touch (or proximity) input position. On the other
hand, because a change amount of the voltage of some of the touch
sensors positioned at a left edge of the sixth block B23 before and
after the touch operation is less than the threshold value Vth,
some of the touch sensors of the sixth block B22 are recognized as
the touch sensors, in which no touch (or proximity) input is
detected. When the partial sensing step is performed only on the
fifth block B22, the voltage of the touch sensors of the sixth
block B23 is not sensed as indicated by a portion having an oblique
line pattern shown in FIG. 47.
[0203] In the case shown in FIG. 47, a center point of a touch (or
proximity) input area is recognized as `x1` which is shifted to the
left from an actual center point `x2`, and thus the touch (or
proximity) input position may be wrongly recognized. When the touch
(or proximity) input is a line drawing type or a dragging type, the
linearity of the touch (or proximity) input is reduced. Hence, a
trace of the touch (or proximity) input may be discontinuous at a
boundary between the blocks or may be distorted in a zigzag
pattern. To prevent the above problem, a fifth embodiment of the
invention performs a partial sensing step using a partial sensing
area, which varies depending on a touch (or proximity) input
position inside a block, as shown in FIGS. 48 to 57. The partial
sensing step using the varied partial sensing area may be applied
to all the embodiments of the invention.
[0204] In a method for driving the touch sensing device according
to the fifth embodiment of the invention, a partial sensing method
expands a partial sensing area in a block sensing step and
precisely senses a block, in which a touch (or proximity) input is
detected, and blocks or touch sensors around the touch (or
proximity) input block. FIGS. 48 to 57 illustrate the partial
sensing method in the method for driving the touch sensing device
according to the fifth embodiment of the invention. Since the
above-described block sensing step according to the embodiments of
the invention may be applied to the driving method illustrated in
FIGS. 48 to 57, a further description may be briefly made or may be
entirely omitted in FIGS. 48 to 57.
Case 1
[0205] FIGS. 48 and 49 illustrate a partial sensing area 100
assigned when a touch (or proximity) input is detected at a right
edge of a predetermined block, and driving signals applied to the
partial sensing area 100.
[0206] As shown in FIGS. 48 and 49, when a touch (or proximity)
input is detected at a right edge of a fifth block B22 in a block
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit senses a voltage of
touch sensors of the fifth block B22 and a voltage of touch sensors
of a sixth block B23 right adjacent to the fifth block B22 in a
partial sensing step. The touch screen driving circuit additionally
senses a voltage of touch sensors close to the fifth and sixth
blocks B22 and B23 among touch sensors positioned outside the fifth
and sixth blocks B22 and B23. The touch sensors close to the fifth
and sixth blocks B22 and B23 include touch sensors positioned on
the fifth and sixth blocks B22 and B23 and touch sensors positioned
under the fifth and sixth blocks B22 and B23. The touch sensors
positioned on the fifth and sixth blocks B22 and B23 may be touch
sensors connected to M Tx lines (where M is a positive integer
which is equal to or greater than 1 and less than the number of Tx
lines included in one block) close to the fifth and sixth blocks
B22 and B23 among touch sensors of second and third blocks B12 and
B13 positioned on the fifth and sixth blocks B22 and B23. The touch
sensors positioned under the fifth and sixth blocks B22 and B23 may
be touch sensors connected to M Tx lines close to the fifth and
sixth blocks B22 and B23 among touch sensors of eighth and ninth
blocks B32 and B33 positioned under the fifth and sixth blocks B22
and B23. In FIGS. 48 and 49, the fifth embodiment of the invention
is described on the assumption that M is 1, but is not limited
thereto.
[0207] As shown in FIG. 49, the touch screen driving circuit
supplies driving signals to Tx lines T5 to T8 connected to the
touch sensors of the fifth and sixth blocks B22 and B23 in the
partial sensing step. Further, the touch screen driving circuit
supplies the driving signals to a fourth Tx line T4 included in the
second and third blocks B12 and B13 and a ninth Tx line T9 included
in the eighth and ninth blocks B32 and B33, so as to expand the
partial sensing area 100. In the partial sensing step, the driving
signals may be sequentially supplied to the fourth Tx line T4 to
the ninth Tx line T9 in the order named. FIG. 49 shows that one
driving signal is supplied to one Tx line in the partial sensing
step. However, each driving signal may include a plurality of
pulses. The Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch
sensors through Rx lines R5 to R12 crossing the Tx lines T4 to T9
in the partial sensing area 100 in synchronization with the driving
signals supplied to the Tx lines T4 to T9, sequentially samples the
voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the voltages of the
touch sensors into digital data.
Case 2
[0208] FIGS. 50 and 51 illustrate a partial sensing area 100
assigned when a touch (or proximity) input is detected at a left
edge of a predetermined block, and driving signals applied to the
partial sensing area 100.
[0209] As shown in FIGS. 50 and 51, when a touch (or proximity)
input is detected at a left edge of a fifth block B22 in a block
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit senses a voltage of
touch sensors of the fifth block B22 and a voltage of touch sensors
of a fourth block B21 left adjacent to the fifth block B22 in a
partial sensing step. The touch screen driving circuit expands the
partial sensing area 100 in the partial sensing step and
additionally senses a voltage of touch sensors close to the fourth
and fifth blocks B21 and B22 among touch sensors positioned outside
the fourth and fifth blocks B21 and B22. The touch sensors close to
the fourth and fifth blocks B21 and B22 include touch sensors
positioned on the fourth and fifth blocks B21 and B22 and touch
sensors positioned under the fourth and fifth blocks B21 and B22.
The touch sensors positioned on the fourth and fifth blocks B21 and
B22 may be touch sensors connected to M Tx lines close to the
fourth and fifth blocks B21 and B22 among touch sensors of first
and second blocks B11 and B12 positioned on the fourth and fifth
blocks B21 and B22. The touch sensors positioned under the fourth
and fifth blocks B21 and B22 may be touch sensors connected to M Tx
lines close to the fourth and fifth blocks B21 and B22 among touch
sensors of seventh and eighth blocks B31 and B32 positioned under
the fourth and fifth blocks B21 and B22. In FIGS. 50 and 51, the
fifth embodiment of the invention is described on the assumption
that M is 1, but is not limited thereto.
[0210] As shown in FIG. 51, the touch screen driving circuit
supplies driving signals to Tx lines T5 to T8 connected to the
touch sensors of the fourth and fifth blocks B21 and B22 in the
partial sensing step. Further, the touch screen driving circuit
supplies the driving signals to a fourth Tx line T4 included in the
first and second blocks B11 and B12 and a ninth Tx line T9 included
in the seventh and eighth blocks B31 and B32, so as to expand the
partial sensing area 100. During a partial sensing period TP, the
driving signals may be sequentially supplied to the fourth Tx line
T4 to the ninth Tx line T9 in the order named. FIG. 51 shows that
one driving signal is supplied to one Tx line during the partial
sensing period TP. However, each driving signal may include a
plurality of pulses. The Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of
the touch sensors through Rx lines R1 to R8 crossing the Tx lines
T4 to T9 in the partial sensing area 100 in synchronization with
the driving signals supplied to the Tx lines T4 to T9, sequentially
samples the voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the
voltages of the touch sensors into digital data.
Case 3
[0211] FIGS. 52 and 53 illustrate a partial sensing area 100
assigned when a touch (or proximity) input is detected in the
center of a predetermined block, and driving signals applied to the
partial sensing area 100.
[0212] As shown in FIGS. 52 and 53, when a touch (or proximity)
input is detected in the center of a fifth block B22 in a block
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit precisely senses a
voltage of touch sensors of the fifth block B22 in a partial
sensing step. The touch screen driving circuit expands the partial
sensing area 100 in the partial sensing step and additionally
senses a voltage of touch sensors close to the fifth block B22
among touch sensors positioned outside the fifth block B22. The
touch sensors close to the fifth block B22 include touch sensors
positioned on the fifth block B22 and touch sensors positioned
under the fifth block B22. The touch sensors positioned on the
fifth block B22 may be touch sensors connected to M Tx lines close
to the fifth block B22 among touch sensors of a second block B12
positioned on the fifth block B22. The touch sensors positioned
under the fifth block B22 may be touch sensors connected to M Tx
lines close to the fifth block B22 among touch sensors of an eighth
block B32 positioned under the fifth block B22. In FIGS. 52 and 53,
the fifth embodiment of the invention is described on the
assumption that M is 1, but is not limited thereto.
[0213] As shown in FIG. 53, the touch screen driving circuit
supplies driving signals to Tx lines T5 to T8 connected to the
touch sensors of the fifth block B22 in the partial sensing step.
Further, the touch screen driving circuit supplies the driving
signals to a fourth Tx line T4 included in the second block B12 and
a ninth Tx line T9 included in the eighth block B32, so as to
expand the partial sensing area 100. During a partial sensing
period TP, the driving signals may be sequentially supplied to the
fourth Tx line T4 to the ninth Tx line T9 in the order named. FIG.
53 shows that one driving signal is supplied to one Tx line during
the partial sensing period TP. However, each driving signal may
include a plurality of pulses. The Rx driving circuit 34 receives
voltages of the touch sensors through Rx lines R5 to R8 crossing
the Tx lines T4 to T9 in the partial sensing area 100 in
synchronization with the driving signals supplied to the Tx lines
T4 to T9, sequentially samples the voltages of the touch sensors,
and converts the voltages of the touch sensors into digital
data.
Case 4
[0214] FIGS. 54 and 55 illustrate a partial sensing area 100
assigned when a touch (or proximity) input is detected at an upper
edge of a predetermined block, and driving signals applied to the
partial sensing area 100.
[0215] As shown in FIGS. 54 and 55, when a touch (or proximity)
input is detected at an upper edge of a fifth block B22 in a block
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit senses a voltage of
touch sensors of the fifth block B22 and a voltage of touch sensors
of a second block B12 upward adjacent to the fifth block B22 in a
partial sensing step. The touch screen driving circuit expands the
partial sensing area 100 in the partial sensing step and
additionally senses a voltage of touch sensors close to the second
and fifth blocks B12 and B22 among touch sensors positioned outside
the second and fifth blocks B12 and B22. The touch sensors close to
the second and fifth blocks B12 and B22 include touch sensors left
adjacent to the second and fifth blocks B12 and B22 and touch
sensors right adjacent to the second and fifth blocks B12 and B22.
The touch sensors left adjacent to the second and fifth blocks B12
and B22 may be touch sensors connected to M Rx lines close to the
second and fifth blocks B12 and B22 among touch sensors of first
and fourth blocks B11 and B21 left adjacent to the second and fifth
blocks B12 and B22. The touch sensors right adjacent to the second
and fifth blocks B12 and B22 may be touch sensors connected to M Rx
lines close to the second and fifth blocks B12 and B22 among touch
sensors of third and sixth blocks B13 and B23 right adjacent to the
second and fifth blocks B12 and B22. In FIGS. 54 and 55, the fifth
embodiment of the invention is described on the assumption that M
is 1, but is not limited thereto.
[0216] As shown in FIG. 55, the touch screen driving circuit
sequentially supplies driving signals to Tx lines T1 to T8
connected to the touch sensors of the second and fifth blocks B12
and B22 in the partial sensing step. FIG. 55 shows that one driving
signal is supplied to one Tx line during a partial sensing period
TP. However, each driving signal may include a plurality of pulses.
The Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch sensors
through Rx lines R4 to R9 crossing the Tx lines T1 to T8 in the
partial sensing area 100 in synchronization with the driving
signals supplied to the Tx lines T1 to T8, sequentially samples the
voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the voltages of the
touch sensors into digital data.
Case 5
[0217] FIGS. 56 and 57 illustrate a partial sensing area 100
assigned when a touch (or proximity) input is detected at a lower
edge of a predetermined block, and driving signals applied to the
partial sensing area 100.
[0218] As shown in FIGS. 56 and 57, when a touch (or proximity)
input is detected at a lower edge of a fifth block B22 in a block
sensing step, the touch screen driving circuit senses a voltage of
touch sensors of the fifth block B22 and a voltage of touch sensors
of an eighth block B32 downward adjacent to the fifth block B22 in
a partial sensing step. The touch screen driving circuit expands
the partial sensing area 100 in the partial sensing step and
additionally senses a voltage of touch sensors close to the fifth
and eighth B22 and B32 among touch sensors positioned outside the
fifth and eighth B22 and B32. The touch sensors close to the fifth
and eighth B22 and B32 include touch sensors left adjacent to the
fifth and eighth B22 and B32 and touch sensors right adjacent to
the fifth and eighth B22 and B32. The touch sensors left adjacent
to the fifth and eighth B22 and B32 may be touch sensors connected
to M Rx lines close to the fifth and eighth B22 and B32 among touch
sensors of fourth and seventh blocks B21 and B31 left adjacent to
the fifth and eighth B22 and B32. The touch sensors right adjacent
to the fifth and eighth B22 and B32 may be touch sensors connected
to M Rx lines close to the fifth and eighth B22 and B32 among touch
sensors of sixth and ninth blocks B23 and B33 right adjacent to the
fifth and eighth B22 and B32. In FIGS. 56 and 57, the fifth
embodiment of the invention is described on the assumption that M
is 1, but is not limited thereto.
[0219] As shown in FIG. 57, the touch screen driving circuit
sequentially supplies driving signals to Tx lines T5 to T12
connected to the touch sensors of the fifth and eighth B22 and B32
in the partial sensing step. FIG. 57 shows that one driving signal
is supplied to one Tx line during a partial sensing period TP.
However, each driving signal may include a plurality of pulses. The
Rx driving circuit 34 receives voltages of the touch sensors
through Rx lines R4 to R9 crossing the Tx lines T5 to T12 in the
partial sensing area 100 in synchronization with the driving
signals supplied to the Tx lines T5 to T12, sequentially samples
the voltages of the touch sensors, and converts the voltages of the
touch sensors into digital data.
[0220] As described above, the embodiment of the invention reduces
the total sensing time of the touch screen, thereby increasing the
touch report rate. Furthermore, the embodiment of the invention
reduces an influence of the noise on the touch screen and
determines the presence or absence of the touch input, thereby
increasing the touch sensitivity. The embodiment of the invention
controls the power consumption of the touch screen driving circuit
at a minimum level for a predetermined idle time when no touch (or
proximity) input is detected in the first bock sensing step.
[0221] The embodiment of the invention expands the partial sensing
area depending on the touch (or proximity) input position. As a
result, the embodiment of the invention prevents or reduces the
shift of the center point of the touch (or proximity) input area in
the partial sensing step, thereby accurately detecting the touch
(or proximity) input position at the boundary between the
blocks.
[0222] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood
that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by
those skilled in the art that will fall within the scope of the
principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various
variations and modifications are possible in the component parts
and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within
the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.
In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
* * * * *